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) (as Clare Boothe), 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
Joan Fontaine	...	Mrs. John Day - Peggy
Lucile Watson	...	Mrs. Morehead
Phyllis Povah	...	Mrs. Phelps Potter - Edith
Virginia Weidler	...	Little Mary
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 an exclusive nightclub, 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:

nail polish | all female cast | beauty salon | divorce | girl | 

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Taglines:

It's all about men!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

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)

Gross USA:

$2,270,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor) (one sequence)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At Mary Haines' luncheon, author Nancy Blake asks Sylvia Fowler, "What are you made up for, The Seeing Eye?" The Seeing Eye is America's first guide dog school. It was founded in 1929.

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Goofs

In her bathing scene, Joan Crawford's character is supposed to mispronounce "cooperate." She doesn't, so the little girl's reaction therefore makes no sense.

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Quotes

Mary Haines: May I suggest, if you're dressing to please Stephen, not that one. He doesn't like such obvious effects.
Crystal Allen: Thanks for the tip. But when anything I wear doesn't please Stephen, I take it off.

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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 Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Joan Crawford (1962)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Classic!

The Women is absolutely one of the best movies of the era. It is such a fun movie to watch over and over. A classic chick flick!

And, most remarkable in that there are no male actors in the movie -- yet you feel their presence throughout.

The young Joan Crawford is perfectly cast as the gold digging "other woman."

Norma Shearer, while not a beauty in any sense of the word, does a fine job as the beleaguered wife. Though I think it might have been better cast with someone lovelier in the lead role.

But it is Rosalind Russell though who absolutely steals the movie. She is delightful to watch!