A Wife by Proxy (1917): cast, story & where to watch
1917 · Film
Released in 1917, A Wife by Proxy is a drama film directed by John Collins, running about 50 minutes.
What it’s about. The film opens in Ireland, as a dying Patrick McNairne tells his daughter Jerry to go to New York and look up Norton Burbeck, a wealthy young man whose life Patrick had saved some time earlier (the surviving print, largely complete, lacks the second page insert of a letter explaining the full background). The affable Burbeck is due to inherit his uncle’s fortune provided he’s married by November; if not, the inheritance will go to his cousin Howard Curtis. An adventuress, Beatrice Gaden, and her husband Dick are in cahoots with Curtis: Beatrice pretends to be single in order to string Norton along up to the November date, at which time Curtis will come into the money and give a share to his unscrupulous partners.
Who’s in it. A Wife by Proxy stars Mabel Taliaferro as Jerry McNairne, Robert Walker as Norton Burbeck, Sally Crute as Beatrice Gaden and Fred Jones as Frederick Gaden, among others.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch A Wife by Proxy page.
If you liked it. Fans of A Wife by Proxy tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch A Wife by Proxy (1917)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for A Wife by Proxy change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Who stars in A Wife by Proxy?
- A Wife by Proxy stars Mabel Taliaferro, Robert Walker, Sally Crute, Fred Jones and Yale Benner.
- When was A Wife by Proxy released?
- A Wife by Proxy was released in 1917, with a runtime of about 50 minutes.