When Ladies Meet (1933)

Director:

Harry Beaumont

Writers:

John Meehan (screenplay) and
Leon Gordon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 June 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Mary, a writer working on a novel about a love triangle, is attracted to her publisher. Her suitor Jimmy...

Plot Keywords:

Publisher | Romantic Rivalry | Swimming | Marriage Proposal | Widow

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Ann Harding	...	Clare Woodruf
Robert Montgomery	...	Jimmie Lee
Myrna Loy	...	Mary Howard
Alice Brady	...	Bridget Drake
Frank Morgan	...	Rogers Woodruf
Martin Burton	...	Walter
Luis Alberni	...	Pierre

Also Known As:

Strange Skirts (USA) (TV title)
Truth Is Stranger (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Approved

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Rachel Crothers's play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 6 October 1932 and closed 4 March 1933 after 173 performances. The opening night cast included Walter Abel as Jimmie, Spring Byington as Bridget, Frieda Inescort as Mary, Herbert Rawlinson as Rogers and Selena Royle as Clare.

Quotes:

Mary Howard: But who wants a husband nobody else wants?

Movie Connections:

Version of When Ladies Meet (1941)

Soundtrack:

Try a Little Tenderness

Witty And Bright

This first film version of the Rachel Crothers play finds Robert Montgomery as the irrepressible playboy who will do just about anything to win Myrna Loy back from the clutches of married publisher Frank Morgan. Even if that means bringing Morgan's wife Ann Harding into the picture. And When Ladies Meet, watch out.

A later version was done by MGM but with more of an emphasis on the mistress than the wife. Joan Crawford had Myrna Loy's role and Ann Harding's part was done by Greer Garson.

Robert Taylor played Montgomery's role and the difference between the two films is the quality of their performances. Taylor had developed a real gift for light comedy, but for Robert Montgomery this kind of part was what made his reputation.

Frank Morgan was far better than Herbert Marshall because he played the role as the two timing rat he was. You watch Marshall's performance and you'd think he was the wronged party. As for Morgan, no one loved him more than I in the role of the inept bumbler he usually played, but parts like in When Ladies Meet and also in Hallelujah, I'm a Bum do show him to good advantage in other kinds of roles.

It's hard to choose between Garson and Harding though. Both of them have the best part in the film and both make equally good use of it. Each are the best in their respective casts.

Eliminated from the second version is a great deadpan performance by Sterling Holloway as the allergy prone golf caddy who destroys Montgomery's game as he's playing with Harding.

The original play ran on Broadway for 191 performances in the 1932-1933 season and starred Walter Abel, Frieda Inescourt, Herbert Rawlinson and Selena Royle. Ironically all of these folks had substantial film careers, but could never be classified as any kind of box office.

When Ladies Meet is witty and bright and a great example of the sophisticated type comedy that's just not being done any more.