Don't Tell the Wife (1937)

Fresh from the iron bars of prison, the crafty Major Manning is already stirring up a new scheme, his mind brimming with cunning and deceit. Displaying his talent for manipulation, he convinces his unsuspecting accomplices to peddle stocks in a gold mine with all the value of a desert mirage. Their deceitful venture is fuelled by funds borrowed from Steve's wife, who is led to believe her hard-earned money is invigorating a legitimate business. The group of swindlers establish a facade of credibility, setting up shop in a plush office, employing experienced telemarketers to cast their persuasive nets, and securing the endorsement of an unwitting newspaper columnist to give their phantom organization a veneer of prestige. As the stocks fly off the shelves, victory appears within their grasp. But as suspicion begins to cloud Steve's wife's innocent trust, and their clueless figurehead unexpectedly starts taking his role seriously, cracks in their carefully constructed plan begin to show. When a disgruntled customer takes his complaints to the authorities, a detective starts sniffing around the office, and the walls begin to close in on Major Manning and his band of fraudsters. As their scheme begins to crumble, will they manage to evade the long arm of the law once more?

Don't Tell the Wife is a comedy movie featuring Guy Kibbee.

Don't Tell the Wife is currently streaming on TCM.