Great Man's Lady (1942)

50% of users liked it
(30 ratings)

This rambling historical drama covers 109 years in the life of one woman. Encased in convincing old-age makeup, Barbara Stanwyck reminisces on her experiences in the American West. As a young woman, she is squired by gambler Brian Donlevy, but her heart belongs to dreamer Joel McCrea. She chooses… More This rambling historical drama covers 109 years in the life of one woman. Encased in convincing old-age makeup, Barbara Stanwyck reminisces on her experiences in the American West. As a young woman, she is squired by gambler Brian Donlevy, but her heart belongs to dreamer Joel McCrea. She chooses McCrea, and the first years of their marriage are poor but happy. Then McCrea strikes oil, becoming one of his state's richest men. With Stanwyck at his side, McCrea climbs up the ladder of success all the way to the political arena--while Donlevy lurks in the background in hopes of reclaiming his girl. The Great Man's Lady is a surprisingly sedate vehicle for both Stanwyck and action director William A. Wellman. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: William A. Wellman
Written By: W.L. River, Adela Rogers St. Johns, W. L. Rivers, Seena Owen
Genres: Western, Drama, Romance

On DVD: Sep 12, 1995

Critic Reviews

Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
[William] Wellman puts the story through its paces without giving it any life or sense of anything at stake...

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

With the dedication of a statue in honor of the late great Ethan Hoyt(Joel McCrea) happening in the city which bears his name, reporters from all over rush to the home of Hannah Sempler(Barbara Stanwyck), rumored to have once been married to him, to get her opinion and answers to all… More
With the dedication of a statue in honor of the late great Ethan Hoyt(Joel McCrea) happening in the city which bears his name, reporters from all over rush to the home of Hannah Sempler(Barbara Stanwyck), rumored to have once been married to him, to get her opinion and answers to all of their questions. But without giving any meaningful responses, she chases them away. However, one young woman(Katharine Stevens) remains, desperately wanting to write a biography about Hoyt. Hannah brusquely tells her to come back in a hundred years when they are both old women but reconsiders, taking pity on her to start her story when she was a young woman in Philadelphia in 1848 when she runs away with Hoyt to avoid being married to Mr. Cadwallader(Lloyd Corrigan). Aided by excellent performances, especially Brian Donlevy in support, "The Great Man's Lady" is a very entertaining and touching tribute to those pioneers who thought big in building this country from the ground up and sacrificed much along the way. While smartly advocating for privacy and the public need not know every detail, the movie takes the Great Man Theory down a notch by commenting blithely that they could not have done it alone, as dreamers always need a partner to ground them to reality in order for them to fully succeed.(It does not hurt if she can handle a hunting rifle, like Hannah can.) And it is not just feminism that puts this movie far ahead of its time, as it is filmed innovatively with a stunning opening sequence that begins with a shot of the house before panning wider to reveal the city that has risen up around it. Sound familiar?

Cast

            Barbara Stanwyck as Hannah Sampler

            Joel McCrea as Ethan Hoyt

            Brian Donlevy as Steely Edwards

            Thurston Hall as Mr. Sampler

            Lloyd Corrigan as Mr. Cadwallader

            Katharine Stevens as Girl biographer

            Lillian Yarbo as Mandy

            Helen Lynd as Bettina

            Mary Treen as Persis

            Etta McDaniel as Delilah

            Lucien Littlefield as City editor

            George Irving as Dr. Adams

            Frank M. Thomas as Frisbee

            Irving Bacon as Parson

            Hank Bell
            
            Monte Blue as Man at Hoyt City

            George Chandler as Forbes

            David Clyde as Bartender

            William B. Davidson as Senator Knobs

            Fern Emmett as Secretary to City Editor

            G.P. Huntley as Quentin

            John Hamilton as Senator Grant

            Ottola Nesmith as Mrs. Frisbee

            Anna Q. Nilsson as Paula Wales

            Damian O'Flynn as Burns

            Pat O'Malley as Murphy the Policeman

            Milton Parsons as Foreman

            Bob Perry as Miner

            Lee Phelps
            
            Eleanor Stewart as Daughter

            Fred 'Snowflake' Toones as Pogey

            Theodore von Eltz
            
            Charles Lane as Pierce

            Charles Williams
            
            Lee Anne Moore
            
            Larry Lawson
            
            Buck Mack
            
            K.T. Stevens
            
See full cast