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:

murder | blackmail | poet | neglected wife | womanizer | 

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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 with those letters. They're innocent.
Lawrence Kennard: Then why are you here?
Evelyn Prentice: There's nothing safe with a man like you.

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Connections

Version of Stronger Than Desire (1939)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Another fine Powell-Loy teaming

William Powell and Myrna Loy made fourteen films together; "Evelyn Prentice" was their third, released in 1934. Powell plays John Prentice, a busy attorney who isn't spending enough time with his wife Evelyn (Loy) and child; he drifts into an affair with a needy client (Rosalind Russell) whom he has successfully defended in a manslaughter case. Evelyn is being wooed by a so-called poet (Harvey Stephens) who in truth has blackmail in mind. When he presents Evelyn with incriminating letters (though she hasn't had an affair with him, the letters are suggestive), a struggle ensues, and he winds up dead. His girlfriend (Isabel Jewell) is accused.

The acting helps what has now become a familiar story. Myrna Loy is absolutely gorgeous and sympathetic as a lonely wife resisting the attentions of another man; and you know that Powell, despite his philandering, cares for her deeply. Una Merkel is delightful as Evelyn's friend.

Powell and Loy worked so easily together and by all accounts enjoyed their collaborations, keeping up their friendship even after Powell retired. They're always a joy to watch.