The Women (1939)

A study of the lives and romantic entanglements of various interconnected women.

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Clare Boothe Luce (from the play by), Anita Loos (screen play),

Stars:

Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Norma Shearer	...	Mrs. Stephen Haines - Mary
Joan Crawford	...	Crystal Allen
Rosalind Russell	...	Mrs. Howard Fowler - Sylvia
Mary Boland	...	The Countess De Lave - Flora
Paulette Goddard	...	Miriam Aarons
Phyllis Povah	...	Mrs. Phelps Potter - Edith
Joan Fontaine	...	Mrs. John Day - Peggy
Virginia Weidler	...	Little Mary
Lucile Watson	...	Mrs. Morehead
Marjorie Main	...	Lucy
Virginia Grey	...	Pat
Ruth Hussey	...	Miss Watts
Muriel Hutchison	...	Jane
Hedda Hopper	...	Dolly Dupuyster
Florence Nash	...	Nancy Blake

Storyline

Wealthy Mary Haines is unaware her husband is having an affair with shopgirl Crystal Allen. Sylvia Fowler and Edith Potter discover this from a manicurist and arrange for Mary to hear the gossip. On the train taking her to a Reno divorce Mary meets the Countess and Miriam (in an affair with Fowler's husband). While they are at Lucy's dude ranch, Fowler arrives for her own divorce and the Countess meets fifth husband-to-be Buck. Back in New York, Mary's ex is now unhappily married to Crystal who is already in an affair with Buck. When Sylvia lets this story slip at a country club dinner, Crystal brags of her plans for a still wealthier marriage, only to find the Countess is the source of all Buck's money. Crystal must return to the perfume counter and Mary runs back to her husband.

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Plot Keywords:

gossip | countess | divorce | perfume | marriage | 

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Taglines:

The Female Of The Species . . . when the men aren't watching !

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

1 September 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mujeres

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,688,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Loew's

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to her autobiography, Rosalind Russell called in sick because Norma Shearer refused to share top billing. She stayed "sick" until Shearer finally relented.

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Goofs

When Mary is on the phone with Stephen during the lunch party, she puts a cigarette in her mouth and strikes a match, lighting it, the cigarette doesn't light, and she holds the unlit thing through the rest of the conversation. When they cut to long shot of her hanging up the phone, the cigarette is smoking, and she stabs it out in an ashtray.

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Quotes

Crystal Allen: [In tub] Holy mackerel!
[Sarcastically]
Crystal Allen: What a cheerful evening! Oh, I'm so bored!
[Throws sponge and almost hits maid]
Helen,: [Surprised] Monsieur says that it doesn't improve madame's nerves to stay so long in ze water.
Crystal Allen: What'd he mean by that? A crack?
Helen,: Oh... No he did not say is zat way madame.
Crystal Allen: [Smirks] I thought not... I've been Mrs. Stephen Haines for 18 months now without a single squawk.
[laughs softly]
Crystal Allen: That's some sort of a record for Park Avenue!
[...]

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits, before the photo images of the actresses are shown, their characters are revealed by images of various animals.

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Connections

Referenced in The Misadventures of Margaret (1998)

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Soundtracks

"On Top of Old Smokey"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung a cappella by Marjorie Main

User Reviews

The claws are out, and they're jungle red!

This movie has one of the best casts ever - Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Paulette Goddard, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, Joan Fontaine, Hedda Hopper and Virginia Weilder just to make a few. These women carry the movie perfectly and acting is perfection. Some people disagree and say that Norma Shearer acts in a 'silent screen' type of way - but I cannot agree with that. I think she did an excellent job especially when she had the crying scene on the sofa (I don't think I have ever seen anybody cry that well before).

Mary Haines (Norma Shearer) discovers that her husband is having an affair with money-hungry perfume sales girl Chrystal Allen (Joan Crawford). Aided and abetted by her cousin Sylvia Fowler (Rosalind Russell) and her army of girlfriends, Mary sets out to win back her man...and teach Chrystal a lesson or two in the process! The movie runs at a rapid pace, and never leaves you bored. The dialog is incredibly witty, it very much surprised me. There was also physical comedy - the hilariously done (and no stunt doubles too!) cat fight between Rosalind Russell and Paulette Goddard. I found the fashion show a bit dragging and too long, but it was still fun looking at all the wonderful classy fashions of that era.

This hilarious comedy about women and their men can appeal to people who are not necessarily fans of old movies. 'The Women' is a wonderful catty, witty, hilarious movie that can be enjoyed by many.