by Sachin Gandhi
Love and Romance are emotions that often escape logical explanations. When one is hard pressed to understand why one person loves another, the phrase “Love is Blind” or “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” comes to the rescue. Once these phrases are uttered, no further explanation is required. No one will ask to dissect the meaning of these phrases and instead nod their head in agreement. As a result, these phrases can also result in an airtight screenplay, where a writer/director can use these phrases to have a plot that cannot be questioned. Not surprisingly, such phrases can be gold in the hands of the right writer/director. Preston Sturges’ The Lady Eve, based on a story by Monckton Hoffe, utilizes these phrases in such a clever manner that one cannot fault anything but instead laugh and admire the effort. In the film, Charles Pike (Henry Fonda) falls for the same woman twice, blindly following his heart and shutting down his mind even though all evidence points to him staying away.
Charles can be forgiven for falling in love the first time because he encounters the charming and bubbly Jean (Barbara Stanwyck, excellent) after he has just returned from his year long trip in the Amazon. Charles was short of human companionship in the Amazon, let alone a female one, that all a woman had to do was smile and he would have been swept off his feet. But as it turns out, Jean knows how to trap a man. She, along with her father ‘Colonel’ Harrington (Charles Coburn) and Gerald (Melville Cooper), are professional card sharks and make a living out of conning people. After the trio learn of Charles’ wealth, they lay out a plan to trap him. It takes minimal effort for Jean to win Charles over. Even though Charles’ bodyguard Muggsy (William Demarest) is suspicious, Charles ignores his warning. Surprisingly, Jean actually starts to fall for Charles and when he proposes to her on a moonlit deck, she is more than happy to accept. She dreams of leaving her criminal life for a better future with Charles and wants to come clean about her trio’s intentions. The Colonel asks Jean to wait until the ship reaches its destination but Muggsy manages to find a photo where the trio are documented as professional card players. Charles feels betrayed and does not seek out an explanation from Jean. She is devastated and seeks revenge as they leave the ship. She gets a chance for revenge after she runs into a colleague, Pearlie (Eric Blore), who boasts about the cons he has pulled off in Bridgefield, the hometown of Charles. Jean asks Pearlie if she can work with him using his cover, where he goes under the working name of Sir Alfred McGlennan Keith, a British man. Jean plays his niece, “The Lady Eve of Sidwich”, and is so confident of her abilities that she does not change her appearance. Instead, all she does is tie up her hair and puts on a British accent. Eve and Sir Alfred go the Pikes’ house party where Eve first charms Charles’ father, Horace Pike (Eugene Pallette) and then manages to get all the guests dancing on her every word. Muggsy is the only one who is not charmed because he is convinced Eve is Jean. Charles has his doubts but Alfred fabricates a story about Eve and Jean being siblings born of an illicit affair with a ‘coachman’. He asks Charles to keep this story a secret in order to protect the reputation of the Sidwich family. Alfred’s story convinces Charles and he proceeds to propose to Eve.
Charles falling for Jean twice defies belief but this is where the phrase ‘love is blind’ comes in handy. He is under Jean’s spell and ignores all reason, including the evidence that is in front of his eyes. However, the film also shows that Jean longs for the magical spell of love despite her conning ways and quest for revenge. When Charles proposes to her the first time on the ship’s moonlit deck, Jean refers to the location as a “woman’s business office”. In the second proposal instance, Jean/Eve plans the spot where she wants to be proposed. She leads Charles on a horse ride that ends with them viewing a sunset. On both occasions, she enjoyed getting a marriage offer at two spots that are famously associated with romance even to this day, more than 7 decades after The Lady Eve was made. Of course, the film is not only about the gushing positive side of romance but also shows the dark side of romance with manipulation and betrayal that can shatter one’s heart. Further, the film’s title, opening credits and multiple scenes in the film reference the Garden of Eden, the most famous act of temptation. However, such is the genius of the screenplay and Struges’ direction that the film never feels dark or sinister. Instead, the comedic framework beautifully captures all aspects of romance, from infatuation to temptation to marriage in one faultless stroke.
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did a comment get cut off here?
No. I didn’t feel I had anything useful to say, but I wanted to read others’ comments. In WordPress, the only way to subscribe to comments is to make a comment yourself. So the standard practice is to make the dummy comment “sub” (or “///”).
Since I’m now typing, let me say how much I enjoyed your essay.
Thanks. I never tried subscribing without a comment so was not aware of that convention.
Fine look at one of my all-time favorite comedies and Barbara Stanwyck films. Wish she’d have done more in this genre.
Thanks. I also wish she had more such roles like this. Such spark and energy.
Love this film. Great job Sachin and it’s good to note the sort of suspension of disbelief that must go on when watching this. It’s one of the funniest films ever made and a great romantic comedy. Stanwyck was one of the sexiest personas on screen and could do wonders with body language and tone of voice.
Thanks Jon. It is an incredible comedy which is why I was happy to see it land in the top 20 (#18) in the Comedy Countdown 2 years ago. I can’t imagine anyone else pulling off such a performance as Stanwyck.
Sachin, what a great way to approach the mysterious phenomena, by way of killer phrases! Here they’re a ticket for getting away with delightful murder. In a film like Boyhood, a phrase like, “I just thought there would be more,” facilitates another kind of surprising impact.
Thanks.
The movie abounds with quirky characters, sex and slapstick. Love the brilliant dialogue and plot twists and the great performance by Stanwyck, Fonda and Coburn. Very fine review, examining as it does the many sides of romance!
Thanks Frank. The film does manage to balance it all nicely without comprising on the humour. Yes, the dialogues are memorable and quite witty. For example, how Muggsy calls Eve as “rib”, which again emphasizes the Biblical theme.
However, such is the genius of the screenplay and Struges’ direction that the film never feels dark or sinister. Instead, the comedic framework beautifully captures all aspects of romance, from infatuation to temptation to marriage in one faultless stroke.
Sachin, your work on this romantic countdown is most unique. For the second time (after your brilliant piece on LA STRADA) you have examined your subject through the prism of romantic cinema, rather than just as a work of cinema that features romance. THE LADY EVE is of course an American masterpiece by one of our icons, and starring one of the greatest actresses of all-time. Such a fascinating essay that examines love from first glance though all of its convolutions on display. I mourn that your work for this countdown is complete with this essay.
Thanks for your kind words Sam. My admiration for this film has grown a lot in the last few years. It is such a rare perfect romantic comedy even though it was made back in 1941. Incredibly, Sturges’ Sullivan’s Travel came out in 1941 as well, the same year as Citizen Kane. Hmm…
There’s another idea for a countdown: The Great Years.
That reminds me how much I enjoyed Allan’s weekly countdown for the best year film awards. I starting missing it the week it ended.
I went back and looked at 1941 and there were quite a few standout films.
Aye Sachin, that weekly venture is missed indeed to this day. We’ll get a chance to visit it in January again when we consider 2014. As far as 1941 that was one of the great years without question!