The Lady in Question (1940)

Director:

Charles Vidor

Writers:

Marcel Achard (screenplay)
Lewis Meltzer (writer)

Release Date:

7 August 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship | Robbery | Storekeeper | Remake | Trial

Cast

Brian Aherne	...	Andre Morestan
Rita Hayworth	...	Natalie Roguin
Glenn Ford	...	Pierre Morestan
Irene Rich	...	Michele Morestan
George Coulouris	...	Defense Attorney
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Prosecuting Attorney
Evelyn Keyes	...	Francois Morestan
Edward Norris	...	Robert LaCoste
Curt Bois	...	Henri Lurette
Frank Reicher	...	President of the Court
Sumner Getchell	...	Fat Boy with Bicycle
Nicholas Bela	...	Nicholas Farkas
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Castle	...	Angry Juror #1

Also Known As:

Gribouille (USA) (working title)
Hearts of Paris (USA) (working title)
It Happened in Paris (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S (1963) | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #6402)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Remake of French film Gribouille (1937).

Movie Connections:

Featured in Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007)

The mystery could not make up its mind whether it wanted to be a comedy or a drama.

Having seen (and commented on for IMDb) the more recent movie by the same title with Gene Wilder, I wanted to watch the 1940 movie to see if there was any resemblance between the two. There was none. Although I am less qualified to evaluate this movie, considering it was made eight years before I was born, I must say it seemed to me that this court-room mystery could not make up its mind whether it wanted to be a comedy or a serious drama. There were alternating comedic and serious touches which I believe detracted from the overall enjoyment of the film. However, the story was enjoyable for a one-time viewing. Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford were familiar to me. Brian Aherne was unfamiliar to me in name, but I believe I recognized him from other movies. He reminded me a little of blustering William Powell in "Life with Father," a movie I cannot stand. It seemed to me the wife could have seen through the father's stories a lot sooner, the silliness of the daughter was overdone, and the scenes with Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth could have been more revealing as to their true feelings for each other. The pairing of the daughter with the fat boy was predictable. And I don't know that the real truth about Rita Hayworth's character really made all that much difference in the end. But these are just my opinions, and I'm glad to say I was able to view the film this once.