The Women (1939)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Clare Boothe Luce (play)
Anita Loos (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 September 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The Female Of The Species . . . when the men aren't watching !

Plot:

Wealthy Mary Haines is unaware her husband is having an affair with shopgirl Crystal Allen. Sylvia Fowler...

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Dude Ranch | Gossip | Train | Marriage

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Norma Shearer	...	Mrs. Stephen Haines (Mary)
Joan Crawford	...	Crystal Allen
Rosalind Russell	...	Mrs. Howard Fowler (Sylvia)
Mary Boland	...	The Countess De Lave
Paulette Goddard	...	Miriam Aarons
Phyllis Povah	...	Mrs. Phelps Potter (Edith)
Joan Fontaine	...	Mrs. John Day (Peggy)
Virginia Weidler	...	Little Mary
Lucile Watson	...	Mrs. Morehead
Marjorie Main	...	Lucy
Virginia Grey	...	Pat (perfume counter clerk)
Ruth Hussey	...	Miss Watts (Stephen's secretary)
Muriel Hutchison	...	Jane (Mary's maid)
Hedda Hopper	...	Dolly Dupuyster (columnist)
Florence Nash	...	Nancy Blake

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Black and White | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

France:U | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Canada:PG (video rating) | UK:A (original rating) (1939) | UK:U (re-rating) (2004) | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #5546)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

In addition to its all-female cast, every animal that was used in the film (the many dogs and horses) was female as well. In addition, none of the works of art seen in the backgrounds were representative of the male form.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Little Mary says, "Sheba, get off of Daddy's coat," to her dog, her lips close before the line is finished.

Quotes:

Mrs. Spencer's friend: Ooh, look at Sidney's miniatures.
Mrs. Spencer: Hmmm. Sure sign of a petty mind!
Receptionist: They've been waiting half and hour, Mrs. Spencer. Would you mind seeing the art exhibit later?
Mrs. Spencer: All right.
[to her friend]
Mrs. Spencer: Art exhibit my foot!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Misadventures of Margaret (1998)

Soundtrack:

On Top of Old Smoky

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!