There's Always a Woman (1938)

An investigator for the District Attorney's office quits to open his own detective agency. However, business is so bad that he finally decides to give it up and go back to his old job. As ... See full summary »

Director:

Alexander Hall

Writers:

Gladys Lehman (screenplay), Wilson Collison (story),

Stars:

Joan Blondell, Melvyn Douglas, Mary Astor

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Blondell	...	Sally Reardon
Melvyn Douglas	...	William Reardon
Mary Astor	...	Lola Fraser
Frances Drake	...	Anne Calhoun
Jerome Cowan	...	Nick Shane
Robert Paige	...	Jerry Marlowe
Thurston Hall	...	District Attorney
Pierre Watkin	...	Mr. Ketterling
Walter Kingsford	...	Grigson - Butler
Lester Matthews	...	Walter Fraser

Storyline

An investigator for the District Attorney's office quits to open his own detective agency. However, business is so bad that he finally decides to give it up and go back to his old job. As his wife is at his office closing up, a wealthy society matron walks in with a case: she wants to know if her husband is having an affair with his ex-girlfriend, who is now married. The wife accepts what looks to be an easy case, figuring than she can then persuade her husband to re-start the agency. However, when the client's husband is found murdered, she decides to investigate the murder herself. Her husband has also been assigned by the D.A. to investigate the murder, and he doesn't know that his wife is also on the case. Complications ensue.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | district attorney | marriage | editor | dancing | 

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Taglines:

A new laugh hit from the studio that gave you "The Awful Truth"!

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 April 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

C'è sotto una donna

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As originally shot, the script contained a sizable role for Rita Hayworth. When, however, it was decided that this film was to be the first of a series, the studio eliminated Hayworth's role rather than have a third major character who, like Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas, would be committed to the series. In any event, Blondell withdrew from the planned series, and all but three seconds of Hayworth's role landed on the cutting-room floor. She speaks two words on-screen and 5 words on an intercom off-screen.

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Connections

Followed by There's That Woman Again (1939)

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Soundtracks

"The Stars and Stripes Forever"
(1896) (uncredited)
Written by John Philip Sousa
Played on a radio

User Reviews

whodunnit ... thin man style...fun bickering

There's Always a Woman stars Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas as husband and wife, trying to solve a case, much like Myrna Loy and William Powell in the Thin Man series, with "Always a Woman" coming several years after Thin Man. William Reardon (Douglas) is deciding if he wants to stay in the private eye business, when wife Sally (Blondell) comes along and interferes in all his business. This one is a little more edgey and biting than the Thin Man; here, they have it out, and it's not alway quite the same gentle, kidding tone that Thin Man has. I wondered if this film had been written by the same team as Thin Man, but it appears it was completely different writers. Viewers will recognize Mary Astor who started in silent films, and made many films, including several with Bogart (Maltese Falcon, Across the Pacific). Blondell will probably be most well known for Three on a match and Desk Set. Interesting that both of Melvyn Douglas' Oscars were for Best Supporting Roles, much later in his career.