US Release date: 15 November 1949
First Melbourne Saturday Suburban: 4 March 1950
Genre: Comedy
Country: USA
Running time: 88 minutes.
Director: Richard Haydn
Cast: William Holden, Joan Caulfield & Billy De Wolfe
Australian Distributor: Paramount
Melbourne Premiere Venue: Union’s Majestic Theatre for three weeks from 9 December 1949 with Bride of Vengeance as support.
Suburban Release Type: Union 7-W-1
Rankings
| Rank | ||
| EF Points | 319 | 54 |
| EF PPE | 7.78 | 22 |
| Metres Travelled | 470,007 | 166 |
| Average MT | 11,464 | 27 |
| Engagements | 41 | 222 |
| Slots | 75 | 47 |
| Weeks | 34 | 24 |
| Weeks as % of engagements | 82.93% | 8 |
| Saturdays | 4 | 309 |
| Sats as % of engagements | 9.76% | 338 |
| Tuesdays | 3 | 299 |
| Tues as % of engagements | 7.32% | 325 |
| First billed | 37 | 108 |
| Second billed | 4 | 225 |
| Feature only | 0 | 34* |
Independent Ratios
| Engagements weeks 1-10 | 40 |
| Ratio | 97.56% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 10.89% |
| Eng weeks 11-26 | 0 |
| Ratio | 0.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -7.62% |
| Eng weeks 27-52 | 1 |
| Ratio | 2.44% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -3.27% |
| Hoyts eng | 0 |
| Ratio | 0.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -0.84% |
| Independent eng | 34 |
| Ratio | 82.93% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 5.82% |
| Suburban eng | 7 |
| Ratio | 17.07% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -4.98% |
Notes: Benefitting from Union’s strong emphasis on weeks, this starry Paramount comedy broke the 300 point barrier and nearly cracked the EF top 50. Travelled far but had a low ratio count of Suburban chain theatres. Bride of Vengeance was a regular support partner.
Dear Wife engagements
| SUBURB | VENUE | CHAIN | DATE | W | D | B | CO-FEATURE |
| Albert Park | Kinema | Independent | 4/3/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Burnley | Burnley | Independent | 4/3/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| North Carlton | Adelphi | Independent | 4/3/50 | 1 | W | 2 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Richmond | National | Independent | 4/3/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| St.Kilda | Astor | Independent | 4/3/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Toorak | Village | Independent | 4/3/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| St.Kilda | Palais | Suburban | 4/3/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Glass Mountain |
| Brunswick | Empire | Independent | 11/3/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Caulfield | Camden | Independent | 11/3/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Elsternwick | Esquire | Independent | 11/3/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Malvern | Embassy | Independent | 11/3/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Moonee Ponds | Moonee | Independent | 11/3/50 | 2 | W | 2 | Bride of Vengeance |
| West Brunswick | Western | Independent | 11/3/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Westgarth | Westgarth | Independent | 11/3/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Preston | Planet | Suburban | 11/3/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Balwyn | Balwyn | Suburban | 18/3/50 | 3 | S | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| East Brunswick | Liberty | Independent | 18/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| East Malvern | Waverley | Independent | 18/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Essendon | Regal | Independent | 18/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Glenferrie | Glen | Independent | 18/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Hawthorn | Vogue | Independent | 18/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Camberwell | Rivoli | Suburban | 18/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Ormond | Plaza | Suburban | 18/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Preston | St. James | Suburban | 18/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Ashburton | Civic | Independent | 25/3/50 | 4 | S | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| North Brighton | Gardenvale | Independent | 25/3/50 | 4 | S | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Middle Brighton | Dendy | Independent | 25/3/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Footscray | Grand | Independent | 25/3/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Sandringham | Roxy | Independent | 25/3/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Newport | Plaza | Independent | 1/4/50 | 5 | T | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Williamstown | Empress | Independent | 1/4/50 | 5 | T | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Coburg | Plaza | Independent | 1/4/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Heidelberg | Orient | Independent | 1/4/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Surrey Hills | Surrey | Independent | 1/4/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Yarraville | Sun | Independent | 1/4/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| North Melbourne | Central | Independent | 8/4/50 | 6 | S | 1 | Beyond the Blue Horizon |
| Oakleigh | Plaza | Independent | 8/4/50 | 6 | W | 1 | Bride of Vengeance |
| Port Melbourne | Port | Independent | 8/4/50 | 6 | W | 1 | Till we Meet Again |
| Box Hill | Regent | Suburban | 15/4/50 | 7 | W | 1 | China |
| Chelsea | Plaza | Independent | 6/5/50 | 10 | W | 2 | Sand |
| Elwood | Broadway | Independent | 2/9/50 | 27 | T | 2 | Double Indemnity |
The 1950 Project 