What Every Woman Knows

Helen Hayes shines as a shrewd wife who quietly paves the way for her husband's political success in this charming adaptation of the 1908 stage play by Sir J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan), costarring Brian Aherne and Madge Evans. When John Shand (Aherne) is caught breaking into their home to make use of its library, the Wylie clan offers the impoverished student a deal: marry Maggie (Hayes), their spinster relation, and the family will pay for his schooling. Five years later, John wins a seat in Parliament, unaware his crafty wife is working behind the scenes to make him the man of the hour. When she's informed John intends to resign so he can get a divorce and marry his party leader's beautiful sister (Evans), Maggie dreams up a scheme that could save her marriage as well as her thickheaded husband's career.

• comedy