Good-hearted fun at its best
Added 3/4/2010
The Lady Eve (1941) is a screwball comedy about a man and a woman who meet on a cruise played by Henry Fonda and Barbra Stanwyck. In 1994 the film was preserved by the United States Library of congress by meeting their guidelines of being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The Lady Eve continues standing the test of time as an influential piece of cinema in the department of romantic comedy.
Like all screwball comedies the pair is mismatched from the start of their adventure. Jean Harrington (Stanwyck) is an expert con artist who plans to scam the rich (not to mention naïve) Charles Pike (Fonda) who works as a snake expert. Unexpectedly the two meet on a luxury liner. She is on her way to scam him and he is on his way back from a trip he had taken down the Amazon for the study of snakes. They fall in love so that when they reach the mainland Harrington finds it hard to go through with her plan (but boy, does she sure try to go through with it to the best of her ability).
Unlike other films, like It Happened One Night, The Lady Eve is a much more fanciful film, both in its tone as well as its characters. From its animated opening with a snake whose tail is firmly wrapped around a rattle the audience can tell they're in for some fun. While It Happened One Night certainly set-up guidelines for the screwball sub-genre, The Lady Eve seems to drive home the fun aspect of it by pumping up the differences between its characters to the point that realism is lost in place of purely fun antics - which is in no way a bad thing. In fact the fact that it doesn't try to be anything other than good comedy is the best part. Often romantic comedies try to cause serious drama during their climax, but not The Lady Eve. A conflict between the two leads does arise, but they never seem to take it seriously.
Some slapstick might be a tad dated, but for the most part The Lady Eve is a lasting gem for the comedy genre. It revels in its fantasy and the crew of the film seems to have enjoyed its production judging by what we see on screen.
The Lady Eve is not to be missed by any generation.
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not to be missed
Added 10/11/2009
Preston Sturges dominated cinema comedy in the early 1940s and finished off the competition with several films that took the genre to a new place others have tried to reach, rarely successfully, ever since. His ability to combine slapstick with some of the subtlest eye gags and dialogue wit is breathtaking in this example of his work. He leads and deceives the audience with such a sure touch - only the director is more conniving than the con-men and con-women who dominate the story. Stanwyck is fabulous - sexy, yes, as others have noted (with expressed surprise). Fonda is the perfect prat (not so unsuspecting as to be vacuous). The supporting cast features many of the great character actors of the time. Coburn as the elder card shark delivers the deadpan stuff with his usual perfect pitch. This is a genuine laugh-out-loud comedy (the scene with the horse is a hoot) - but, if you aren't in tears from the humour (at a couple of points Fonda is unable to suppress a smile), you will marvel observing the amazing skill of the ringmaster. For any serious collection.
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What a wonderful film
Added 9/11/2009
The Bottom Line:
The film which convinced me that screwball comedies could create actual characters, movies from the 40s could make me laugh out loud, and Barbara Stanwyck was someone I would have wanted to go on a date with, The Lady Eve is nothing but fun through and through while still managing to make you care for the characters and hope they find happiness together at the end; a delightful picture, it has lost nothing of its charm since its release.
3.5/4
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Risque in a way . . .but classy.
Added 9/4/2009
This is a romantic comedy that actually if one reads through the lines is quite risque. But it is classily done, so it makes for a nice film. Barbara Stanwyck plays a clever and classy sidekick to her father's gambling entourage. They target the wealthy travelers and Henry Fonda plays the naive fellow who falls hook line and sinker for her. Well, of course, he gets wind of what is really going on and both of their feelings get extremely hurt. Fortunately, for everybody, Barbara Stanwyck's character doesn't give up and in the end all is well. Barbara Stanwyck, by the way, does a most convincing job of portraying a British Duchess. It was hard to believe it was the same person. Well done!
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Great Screwball Comedy
Added 4/8/2009
Awesome classic comedy from the Golden Era of Hollywood. The humor, dialogue and acting in this film is uncomparable. The chemistry between Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda is magnificent. This movie is hilarious from start to finish. It never ceases to amuse me. Guaranteed delight!
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Good-hearted fun at its best
Added 3/4/2010
The Lady Eve (1941) is a screwball comedy about a man and a woman who meet on a cruise played by Henry Fonda and Barbra Stanwyck. In 1994 the film was preserved by the United States Library of congress by meeting their guidelines of being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The Lady Eve continues standing the test of time as an influential piece of cinema in the department of romantic comedy.
Like all screwball comedies the pair is mismatched from the start of their adventure. Jean Harrington (Stanwyck) is an expert con artist who plans to scam the rich (not to mention naïve) Charles Pike (Fonda) who works as a snake expert. Unexpectedly the two meet on a luxury liner. She is on her way to scam him and he is on his way back from a trip he had taken down the Amazon for the study of snakes. They fall in love so that when they reach the mainland Harrington finds it hard to go through with her plan (but boy, does she sure try to go through with it to the best of her ability).
Unlike other films, like It Happened One Night, The Lady Eve is a much more fanciful film, both in its tone as well as its characters. From its animated opening with a snake whose tail is firmly wrapped around a rattle the audience can tell they're in for some fun. While It Happened One Night certainly set-up guidelines for the screwball sub-genre, The Lady Eve seems to drive home the fun aspect of it by pumping up the differences between its characters to the point that realism is lost in place of purely fun antics - which is in no way a bad thing. In fact the fact that it doesn't try to be anything other than good comedy is the best part. Often romantic comedies try to cause serious drama during their climax, but not The Lady Eve. A conflict between the two leads does arise, but they never seem to take it seriously.
Some slapstick might be a tad dated, but for the most part The Lady Eve is a lasting gem for the comedy genre. It revels in its fantasy and the crew of the film seems to have enjoyed its production judging by what we see on screen.
The Lady Eve is not to be missed by any generation.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
not to be missed
Added 10/11/2009
Preston Sturges dominated cinema comedy in the early 1940s and finished off the competition with several films that took the genre to a new place others have tried to reach, rarely successfully, ever since. His ability to combine slapstick with some of the subtlest eye gags and dialogue wit is breathtaking in this example of his work. He leads and deceives the audience with such a sure touch - only the director is more conniving than the con-men and con-women who dominate the story. Stanwyck is fabulous - sexy, yes, as others have noted (with expressed surprise). Fonda is the perfect prat (not so unsuspecting as to be vacuous). The supporting cast features many of the great character actors of the time. Coburn as the elder card shark delivers the deadpan stuff with his usual perfect pitch. This is a genuine laugh-out-loud comedy (the scene with the horse is a hoot) - but, if you aren't in tears from the humour (at a couple of points Fonda is unable to suppress a smile), you will marvel observing the amazing skill of the ringmaster. For any serious collection.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
What a wonderful film
Added 9/11/2009
The Bottom Line:
The film which convinced me that screwball comedies could create actual characters, movies from the 40s could make me laugh out loud, and Barbara Stanwyck was someone I would have wanted to go on a date with, The Lady Eve is nothing but fun through and through while still managing to make you care for the characters and hope they find happiness together at the end; a delightful picture, it has lost nothing of its charm since its release.
3.5/4
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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