The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937)

Director:

Richard Boleslawski

Writers:

Frederick Lonsdale (play)
Leon Gordon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 February 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

There is a big charity function at the house of Mrs. Cheyney and a lot of society is present. With her rich husband...

Plot Keywords:

Butler | Charity | Gang | Confidence Man | London England

Cast

Joan Crawford	...	Mrs. Fay Cheyney
William Powell	...	Charles
Robert Montgomery	...	Lord Arthur Dilling
Frank Morgan	...	Lord Francis Kelton
Jessie Ralph	...	The Duchess of Ebley
Nigel Bruce	...	Lord Willie Winton
Colleen Clare	...	Joan
Benita Hume	...	Lady Kitty Winton
Ralph Forbes	...	Cousin John Clayborn
Aileen Pringle	...	Maria
Melville Cooper	...	William 'Bill'
Leonard Carey	...	Ames, the Duchess' butler
Sara Haden	...	Anna
Lumsden Hare	...	Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard
Wallis Clark	...	George

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3058) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Dorothy Arzner was the third director for this film. George Fitzmaurice took over directing when Richard Boleslawski died suddenly. When Fitzmaurice became ill, Arzner finished directing it.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Standing on deck, Fay is trying, unsuccessfully to light the cigarette in her holder with a lighter. she is seen by Nigel Bruce, who lights it for her. Later, when offered a cigarette by Lord Dilling, she states, "....you know I don't smoke." Since the characters have speculated about her, wouldn't Lord Dilling know that his friend lit her cigarette aboard ship?

Movie Connections:

Version of "The Alcoa Hour: The Original Miss Chase (#2.13)" (1957)

Soundtrack:

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

Joan and her two co-stars

There is a lot of criticism, mostly negative, on this board about this film, which I can't understand. I have never seen the original film version with Norma Shearer, but it appears not to be bowdlerized like this one. But bowdlerized or not, this is a very good film.

It has a first rate cast led by Crawford (who was capable of comedy but opted for dramatic intense roles like Mildred Pierce). As the role calls for her to be compromised by her actions (she has masqueraded as a socialite to be accepted by the jaded aristocrats in order to pull off a jewel robbery) the role is not a slap happy funny part like say Rosalind Russell's Hildy Johnson, but a tonier style of sophisticated comedy. As such it is perfectly fitted to Crawford's screen persona.

As for the jaded aristocrats: Frank Morgan may not do a British accent at all, but his fumbling is pretty good here - he is the richest man in England, and could give an intelligent talk on industrial output or tariffs, but cannot open up his heart to Crawford; Nigel Bruce is another nobleman, who has a randy set of eyes for pretty ladies, and cannot see his wife (Benita Hume) is far too close to her "cousin" (Ralph Forbes). The splendid Jessie Ralph is an aging dowager who befriends Crawford (it is her pearl necklace that Crawford is seeking to steal). She is a lively and likable old lady, and one with a scandalous past (as we eventually learn). But if none of the aristocrats are spotless in character (except possibly the boring Morgan), the other members of the gang are not wonderful. Melville Cooper (pretending to be Crawford's chauffeur) is constantly ready to whip out his handy knife and cut the throat of anyone he thinks is double crossing them.

But the most interesting thing about the casting were the two leading men: Robert Montgomery and William Powell. The two most sophisticated and suave leading men of the golden age of movies only appeared in this one film together. They share only four scenes, but it is remarkable about how smooth the scenes are - like a perfect set of volleyball games with no shots and counter shots missed by either party (and when Crawford joins them she is equally smooth in responding to both her leading men). She had made other films with Montgomery but there were no others after this one. As for Powell, this was there only film together. As such it should be seen for the bright chemistry between the three leads alone, but it is a good comedy on its own.