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Theodora Goes Wild

  • 19361936
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Melvyn Douglas and Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:28
1 Video
21 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Romance

The author of a controversially racy best-selling book tries to hide her celebrity status from her provincial small-town neighbors, who'd be scandalized if they knew.The author of a controversially racy best-selling book tries to hide her celebrity status from her provincial small-town neighbors, who'd be scandalized if they knew.The author of a controversially racy best-selling book tries to hide her celebrity status from her provincial small-town neighbors, who'd be scandalized if they knew.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Boleslawski
  • Writers
    • Sidney Buchman(screen play)
    • Mary Eunice McCarthy(from an original story by)
  • Stars
    • Irene Dunne
    • Melvyn Douglas
    • Thomas Mitchell
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Boleslawski
  • Writers
    • Sidney Buchman(screen play)
    • Mary Eunice McCarthy(from an original story by)
  • Stars
    • Irene Dunne
    • Melvyn Douglas
    • Thomas Mitchell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 46User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:28
    Official Trailer

    Photos21

    "Theodora Goes Wild" Irene Dunne 1936 Columbia
    Melvyn Douglas and Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Melvyn Douglas and Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Melvyn Douglas and Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Melvyn Douglas, Irene Dunne, and Corky in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Melvyn Douglas and Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Melvyn Douglas and Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Spring Byington, Melvyn Douglas, Irene Dunne, Carolyn Lee Bourland, and Corky in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Melvyn Douglas and Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Melvyn Douglas and Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
    Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild (1936)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Irene Dunne
    Irene Dunne
    • Theodora Lynnas Theodora Lynn
    Melvyn Douglas
    Melvyn Douglas
    • Michael Grantas Michael Grant
    Thomas Mitchell
    Thomas Mitchell
    • Jed Waterburyas Jed Waterbury
    Thurston Hall
    Thurston Hall
    • Arthur Stevensonas Arthur Stevenson
    Elisabeth Risdon
    Elisabeth Risdon
    • Aunt Maryas Aunt Mary
    Margaret McWade
    Margaret McWade
    • Aunt Elsieas Aunt Elsie
    Spring Byington
    Spring Byington
    • Rebecca Perryas Rebecca Perry
    Nana Bryant
    Nana Bryant
    • Ethel Stevensonas Ethel Stevenson
    Henry Kolker
    Henry Kolker
    • Jonathan Grantas Jonathan Grant
    Leona Maricle
    Leona Maricle
    • Agnes Grantas Agnes Grant
    Robert Greig
    Robert Greig
    • Uncle Johnas Uncle John
    Frederick Burton
    Frederick Burton
    • Governor Wyattas Governor Wyatt
    Stella Adams
    Stella Adams
    • Townswomanas Townswoman
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Barrett
    • Roger Taylor - Adelaide's Husbandas Roger Taylor - Adelaide's Husband
    • (uncredited)
    Noel Bates
    • Townswomanas Townswoman
    • (uncredited)
    William 'Billy' Benedict
    William 'Billy' Benedict
    • Henryas Henry
    • (uncredited)
    Sven Hugo Borg
    Sven Hugo Borg
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    Carolyn Lee Bourland
    • Adelaide's Babyas Adelaide's Baby
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Richard Boleslawski
    • Writers
      • Sidney Buchman(screen play)
      • Mary Eunice McCarthy(from an original story by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The small-town prudes of Lynnfield are up in arms over 'The Sinner,' a sexy best-seller. They little suspect that author 'Caroline Adams' is really Theodora Lynn, scion of the town's leading family. Michael Grant, devil-may-care book jacket illustrator, penetrates Theodora's incognito and sets out to 'free her' from Lynnfield against her will. But Michael has a secret too, and gets a taste of his own medicine. —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
    • forename in title
    • train station
    • scandalous book
    • serialized novel
    • pseudonym
    • 199 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Irene Dunne in a RIOTOUS ROMANTIC COMEDY! (original posters and print ads)
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Marion Davies and Carole Lombard were the first choices for this film, but Davies retired and Lombard was unavailable.
    • Goofs
      When Theodora confronts the town's women after helping Michael with his dog's paw, the shadow of the microphone is briefly visible on the walls of the living room.
    • Quotes

      Ethel Stevenson: It's all perfectly clear to me. That adorable young thing is an unholy terror on wheels. There's nothing in the world more deadly than innocence on the manhunt!

    • Connections
      Featured in The Lady with the Torch (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Rock of Ages
      (1830) (uncredited)

      Music by Thomas Hastings (1830)

      Lyrics by Augustus Montague Toplady (1776)

      Sung by Irene Dunne and congregation at church

    User reviews46

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Lynnfield's Terrible Secret
    I'm not sure how Theodora Goes Wild would be viewed today because of changing demographics. Some of those small New England towns like Lynnfield are not bastions of conservatism any longer. Today the home of a well known author like Irene Dunne would be a tourist attraction.

    But back in the Thirties, this still was the New England of Calvin Coolidge and descendants of the town founder just don't go writing romance novels. But that's what Irene Dunne is doing only its under a pseudonym, lest the good people of Lynnfield make life uncomfortable for herself and her two maiden aunts.

    Irene's cover will be blown though when she meets her illustrator at her publisher. Melvyn Douglas is quite smitten with her and he follows her back to Lynnfield from New York and persuades her that she ought to live life a little and not just vicariously through her novels.

    Dunne takes his advice with a vengeance after he's thoroughly embarrassed her. But when Theodora Lynn does go wild she takes no prisoners. Coming out in public under her pseudonym of Caroline Adams, Dunne gets fame and notoriety confused. Today she would be big time tabloid fodder and pays Douglas back in a way he can only blame on himself.

    It's charming pair of leads with a delightful supporting cast that play their roles to perfection. A particular favorite of mine is publisher Thurston Hall who gets to do a drunk scene with Dunne, something the very proper Mr. Hall didn't often do.

    Irene Dunne got one of her five Oscar nominations for playing Theodora Lynn aka Caroline Adams, but lost in the big sweepstakes to Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld.

    I'm not sure how you could do Theodora Goes Wild today though. I can see the town billboard on the Massachusetts Turnpike: Welcome to Lynnfield, Home of Caroline Adams.
    helpful•21
    3
    • bkoganbing
    • Feb 12, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 12, 1936 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Theodora leker med elden
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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