Wednesday's Child
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
John Robertson
Karen Morley
Edward Arnold
Frankie Thomas
Robert Shayne
Frank Conroy
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
While his adoring father Ray is out of town on business, eleven-year-old Bobby Phillips and a group of his friends see Bobby's mother Kathryn kiss another man in a park. Although disturbed by what he has seen, Bobby says nothing to his father and endures the ridicule of his friends. When Ray finally confronts Kathryn with her infidelity, she confesses that she is unhappy with their marriage and is in love with Howard Benson, a longtime admirer. As Bobby watches tearfully from his bedroom, Ray denounces Kathryn and slaps her in a jealous rage. At the divorce trial, Bobby is called by Kathryn's lawyer to testify against his father, but Ray, sensing Bobby's extreme discomfort, refuses to use him as part of his defense. Although the judge finally grants Kathryn her divorce, he also stipulates that Ray will have custody of Bobby for a four-month period in the summer. Soon after, Kathryn marries Howard, but Bobby, still resentful of his mother, is unable to adjust to his stepfather and longs to be with Ray. When Bobby finally returns to his father's house that summer, however, his homecoming is ruined by the arrival of Louise, Ray's fiancée. Bobby's disappointment at not having Ray to himself causes him to collapse with fever. On the advice of Bobby's doctor, Ray and Kathryn agree to send Bobby to a military school where he will be able to form long-term, continuous friendships. During a brief visit to the school, Ray overhears Bobby's roommate, Charles "Chic" Nevins, another victim of divorce, assure a tearful Bobby that one day he will "get over" his parents. Overwhelmed by his son's unhappiness, Ray tells Kathryn that one of them must take sole custody of Bobby. With Kathryn's blessing, Ray then bursts into Bobby's room and announces that he is not marrying Louise after all and will be taking Bobby home to live with him.
Director
John Robertson
Cast
Karen Morley
Edward Arnold
Frankie Thomas
Robert Shayne
Frank Conroy
Shirley Grey
Paul Stanton
David Durand
Richard Barbee
Frank Thomas Sr.
Mona Bruns
Elsa Jannson
Crew
Pandro S. Berman
D. A. Cutler
Major Earle Foxe
Willis Goldbeck
Al Herman
George Hively
Ray Lissner
Kenneth Macgowan
Walter Plunkett
Van Nest Polglase
Max Steiner
Harold Wenstrom
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to the Variety review, the ending of the film differs from that of the play. In the play, the father does not sacrifice his engagement for his son, and the son is left to fend for himself at military school. Frankie Thomas, who also played the part of "Bobby" in the New York stage production, made his screen debut in this film. Frankie Thomas (1921-2006) was Frank Thomas, Sr.'s real-life son with actress Mona Bruns, who had a small role as a nurse in the film. Thomas, Sr., later known as Frank M. Thomas, was billed as Tom Franklin, his stage name, in the opening credits. RKO borrowed Karen Morley from M-G-M for this production. In 1946, Richard O. Fleischer directed Sharyn Moffett in a second RKO version of Leopold Atlas' play called Child of Divorce.
