Miriam wishes to reunite the couple, and as she has just had a fight with her boyfriend Ziggy, she convinces Bill to take her to a dance. Ruth is already on her way to the railway station with Albert, who hopes to renew their relationship. Harry arranges for the police to arrest Albert because of his car's bad brakes. Albert and Ruth are brought into court, and Harry insists that they remain in town for the trial, which will not be heard until next week. Bill and Albert meet at the dance, and Albert informs Bill that he has been disqualified as a candidate because he moved to another district. Harry's sponsor announces that a piece of land will be donated to any homeowner displaced by the new airport. When Harry wins the senate race, the political conflict is resolved. Bill fights with Albert at the dance and punches him for interfering with his marriage. Meanwhile, Harry lectures Ruth about her duties as a wife. Ruth and Bill finally reunite. Miriam secretly starts a new petition to nominate Bill for state senator. Cast Edward Arnold as Judge Wilkins Mary Philips as Mrs. Edie Wilkins Mona Freeman as Miriam Wilkins Joan Caulfield as Ruth Wilkins then Seacroft William Holden as Bill Seacroft Billy De Wolfe as Albert Kummer Arleen Whelan as Tommy Murphy Production In 1945, Paramount paid a record $400,000 for the film rights to the hit play Dear Ruth. This included the right to use the characters in a sequel. In December 1947, the studio announced the sequel, featuring many of the original cast. Arthur Sheekman, who co-wrote Dear Ruth, and N. Richard Nash were assigned to write the script and Richard Maibaum was to direct. However, Maibaum produced the film, and Richard Haydn, who appears in a small role in the film billed as Stanley Stayle, directed. Filming began in early 1949 when William Holden became free after the screen adaptation of Thomas Savage's book Lona Hanson was shelved. Reception Dear Wife was screened for preview audiences on December 31, 1949 and premiered in New York on February 1, 1950 at the Paramount Theatre with an accompanying stage show featuring actress Celeste Holm. On March 2, the film began its run at Paramount's Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles theaters. In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Thomas M. Pryor wrote: "As sequels go, the new