Evelyn Prentice (1934)

The neglected wife of a high profile attorney dallies with a unscrupulous womanizer and finds herself involved in blackmail and murder.

Director:

William K. Howard

Writers:

Lenore J. Coffee (screen play), W.E. Woodward (from the book by)

Stars:

William Powell, Myrna Loy, Una Merkel

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Powell	...	John Prentice
Myrna Loy	...	Evelyn Prentice
Una Merkel	...	Amy Drexel
Rosalind Russell	...	Mrs. Nancy Harrison
Isabel Jewell	...	Judith Wilson
Harvey Stephens	...	Lawrence Kennard
Edward Brophy	...	Eddie Delaney
Henry Wadsworth	...	Chester Wylie
Cora Sue Collins	...	Dorothy Prentice
Frank Conroy	...	Dist. Atty. Farley
Jessie Ralph	...	Mrs. Blake

Storyline

Evelyn Prentice is the respected wife of a high-profile New York attorney. Despite the prestige and status she enjoys, she feels neglected and out of boredom becomes involved with an unscrupulous womanizing poet, who gives her the attention she craves. She eventually finds herself a victim of blackmail and becomes involved in his murder. When another woman is accused of the crime, she begs her husband to defend her.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | two word title | murder | blackmail | poet | 

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Taglines:

Remember "The Thin Man"? Well, here they are together again.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

9 November 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Testemunha Imprevista

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$498,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was a success for MGM at the box office, earning a profit of $244,000 ($4.4M in 2016) according to studio records.

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Goofs

When John is discussing the clues of the case in their living room, Evelyn puts her fists up to her cheeks. In the next angle, they are by her sides.

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Quotes

Evelyn Prentice: There's nothing wrong in those letters. They were entirely innocent.
Lawrence Kennard: Then why are you here?
Evelyn Prentice: Because nothing is safe with a man like you.
Lawrence Kennard: That's the most sensible observation you've made to date.

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Connections

Referenced in Dick Tracy (1945)

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Soundtracks

Turkey in the Straw
(uncredited)
Traditional folk song
Played at the barn dance

User Reviews

If you like Powell and Loy, catch this one.

In EVELYN PRENTICE, I saw the importance of family and the real meaning of "'til death do us part," from the standard marriage vows. Work comes between John and Evelyn Prentice (William Powell and Myrna Loy). A sweet-talker comes between John and Evelyn Prince. Their daughter Dorothy brings them together, as does love.

As simple as this sounds, as possibly hokey, it mattered in 1935, and it made for a good movie. It matters in the 21st Century, as well, and the movie is still good.

The villain in this film is portrayed as totally devoid of value, his killing beneficial to the human race. Vigilante justice is an uneasy concept, but it works. The sleazy sweet-talker is shot, and John Prentice is the best attorney around.

If you like Powell and Loy beyond the Thin Man series, and there are several great ones, you'll enjoy this. Powell's character is a sophisticated as ever, Loy's as fantastically intelligent.

My wife and I enjoyed this film.