Smart Woman (1948)

The last credited screenplay by Alvah Bessie, using his own name, as he was soon to become one of the Hollywood Ten. This one is a 1940s gender-clasher involving a crusading district ... See full summary »

Director:

Edward A. Blatt

Writers:

Leon Gutterman (original story), Edwin V. Westrate (original story),

Stars:

Brian Aherne, Constance Bennett, Barry Sullivan

Cast

Credited cast:
Brian Aherne	...	Robert Larrimore
Constance Bennett	...	Paula Rogers
Barry Sullivan	...	Frank McCoy
Michael O'Shea	...	Johnny Simons
James Gleason	...	Sam Corkle
Otto Kruger	...	D.A. Bradley Wayne
Isobel Elsom	...	Mrs. Rogers
Richard Lyon	...	Rusty Rogers
Selena Royle	...	Mrs. Wayne
Taylor Holmes	...	Dr. Jasper
John Litel	...	Clark
Nita Hunter	...	Patty Wayne
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Netta Packer	...	Undetermined Minor Role (scenes deleted)
Walter Walker	...	Undetermined Minor Role (scenes deleted)

Storyline

The last credited screenplay by Alvah Bessie, using his own name, as he was soon to become one of the Hollywood Ten. This one is a 1940s gender-clasher involving a crusading district attorney, Robert Larrimore, butting heads in court with defense attorney Paula Rogers. They fall in love. But there is a small problem; Paula realizes that she must reveal that her on-trial client, FRank McCoy, is also her former husband...and she fears this may damage her relationship with Larrimore, and her son.

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Plot Keywords:

defense attorney | district attorney | 1940s | doctor | ex husband ex wife relationship | 

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Taglines:

Smart about everything ... except men!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 April 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Madame et ses pantins

Company Credits

Production Co:

Constance Bennett Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Falcon Crest: Dark Passion (1987)

User Reviews

Mildly Disappointing

A special prosecutor trying to clean up the town and a lady lawyer tangle in court, but get romantically involved on the outside.

Lowly Allied Artists (Monogram) assembled an A-list cast, pretty good production values, but then put a no-name director (W. Blatt) with all of 3 directorial credits in charge. The results are flatter than they should be, and I suspect his lack of a sure hand is partially to blame. Unfortunately, Bennett who can be quite sparkling is deadly serious here, somewhat out of sync with Aherne's lighter touch, while I suspect wisecracking O'Shea (Johnny) and the droll Gleason (Corkle) were brought in to liven things up. And, of course, on the sinister side there's that grinning old cobra Otto Kruger as the crooked D.A..

The plot's pretty complicated with an unexpected twist near the end. I couldn't figure out, however, whether the storyline was supposed to be a drama with comical overtones or a romantic comedy with dramatic overtones. Either way, it's a mild disappointment given the cast and battery of writers. (In passing—note that Bennett's lady lawyer wears a hat in court while defending her client. This may be the only time I've seen an officer of the court wearing a hat while court is in session. Nothing hangs on this; I'm just curious.)