''Wednesday's Child'' is a 1934 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by John S. Robertson and written by

Willis Goldbeck Willis Goldbeck (October 24, 1898 – September 17, 1979) was an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He wrote for 40 films between 1923 and 1962. He also directed ten films between 1942 and 1951. Willis graduated from Worcest ...

, based on the 1934 play '' Wednesday's Child'' by Leopold L. Atlas. The film stars Karen Morley, Edward Arnold, Frankie Thomas, Robert Shayne and Frank Conroy. The film was released on October 26, 1934, by

RKO Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orphe ...

. The play was later adapted to film again as the 1946 RKO film ''

Child of Divorce ''Child of Divorce'' is a 1946 American film directed by Richard O. Fleischer. It was the first film that he directed. RKO had adapted the play to film before as the 1934 film ''Wednesday's Child (film), Wednesday's Child''. Plot summary Young Ro ...

''.

Plot

Ten-year-old Bobby (Frankie Thomas) and a group of friends see Bobby's mother (Karen Morley) kissing a man who is not her husband. Despite serious concerns about Bobby, a divorce ensues and Bobby, although thoroughly disenchanted with his mother, is sent away with her where month after month despite all her efforts he grows more depressed, dreaming of reunification with his beloved father (Edward Arnold). On returning to his father at vacation, he finds him preoccupied with an impending second marriage. Bobby suffers a serious breakdown but is nevertheless packed off to military school. Later, visiting the school, his parents overhear Bobby and his roommate, also a child of divorce, discussing how they are on their own now. With the mother's blessing, the father decides to cancel his upcoming marriage and take Bobby back home where the two of them can live together happily.

Cast

* Karen Morley as Kathryn Phillips * Edward Arnold as Ray Phillips * Frankie Thomas as Bobby Phillips * Robert Shayne as Howard Benson * Frank Conroy as The Judge * Shirley Grey as Louise * Paul Stanton as Keyes *

David Durand David Durand (1680 – 16 January 1763) was a Huguenot French people, French and English people, English minister (religion), minister and historian. He was born in Languedoc and fled France to the Netherlands before heading to Spain with a grou ...

as Charles *Richard Barbee as Dr. Stirling *

Frank M. Thomas Frank Marion Thomas (July 13, 1889 – November 25, 1989) was an American character actor of stage, screen and television. He and his wife, actress Mona Bruns, both lived to 100 years old. He died the day before her 90th birthday; she died 11 y ...

as Attorney for the Defense *

Mona Bruns Mona Bruns (November 26, 1899 – June 13, 2000) was an American actress on the stage, films, radio, and television. She appeared in such television series as ''Dr. Kildare'', ''Little House on the Prairie'', ''Green Acres'', and ''Bonanza'', ...

as The Nurse *Elsa Janssen as Martha

References

External links

* 1934 films American black-and-white films RKO Pictures films Films directed by John S. Robertson 1934 drama films American drama films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{1930s-drama-film-stub