The Women (1939)
-
90% of critics liked it
(20 reviews) -
89% of users liked it
(6,311 ratings)
Based on the Clare Booth Luce play of the same name, this MGM comedy is famous for its all-female cast and deft direction by George Cukor. The plot centers on a group of gossipy high-society women who spend their days at the beauty salon and haunting fashion shows. The sweet, happily wedded Mary… More Based on the Clare Booth Luce play of the same name, this MGM comedy is famous for its all-female cast and deft direction by George Cukor. The plot centers on a group of gossipy high-society women who spend their days at the beauty salon and haunting fashion shows. The sweet, happily wedded Mary Haines (Norma Shearer) finds her marriage in trouble when shopgirl Crystal Allen (Joan Crawford) gets her hooks into Mary's man. Naturally, this situation becomes the hot talk amongst Mary's catty friends, especially the scandalmonger Sylvia Fowler (Rosalind Russell), who has little room to talk -- she finds herself on a train to Reno and headed for divorce right after Mary. But with a bit of guts and daring, Mary snatches her man right back from Crystal's clutches. Snappy, witty dialogue, much of it courtesy of veteran screenwriter Anita Loos, helps send this film's humor over the top. So do the characterizations -- Crawford is as venomous as they come, and this was Russell's first chance to show what she could do as a comedienne. And don't discount Shearer -- her portrayal of good-girl Mary is never overpowered by these two far-flashier roles. The only part of The Women that misses is the fashion-show sequence. It was shot in color -- an innovative idea in its day -- but now both the concept and clothes are dreary and archaic. Do keep an eye on the supporting players, though, especially Mary Boland as the Countess DeLage. The role was based on a cafe society dame of that era, the Countess DiFrasso, who had a wild affair with Gary Cooper; that romance is satirized here. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi
- Directed By
- George Cukor
- Written By
- Anita Loos
- Genres
- Drama, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1939 Wide
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
-
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic
A film that deserves to be seen (or seen again).
-
Ted Shen, Chicago Reader
The catty banter and Wildean aphorisms (some of them contributed by Anita Loos) are delivered with impeccable timing by a cast only MGM could have mustered.
-
Don Druker, Chicago Reader
[Cukor is] at his best with a cast that includes Rosalind Russell, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Hedda Hopper, Ruth Hussey, Paulette Goddard, and Joan Fontaine.
-
Variety Staff, Variety
Picture however holds passages that slow movement down to a walk.
-
, Time Out
A more eccentric film than the following year's The Philadelphia Story, with which it shares a couple of faces, it's almost as fabulous.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Norma Shearer
as Mary Haines
-
Joan Crawford
as Crystal Allen
-
Rosalind Russell
as Sylvia Fowler
-
Mary Boland
as Countess DeLage
-
Joan Fontaine
as Peggy Day
-
Paulette Goddard
as Miriam Aarons
-
Phyllis Povah
as Edith Potter
-
Virginia Weidler
as Little Mary
-
Lucile Watson
as Mrs. Moorhead Mary's Mother
-
Florence Nash
as Nancy Blake
-
Esther Dale
as Ingrid Country House Cook
-
Ann Morriss
as Exercise Instructor
-
Ruth Hussey
as Miss Watts Stephen's Secretary
-
Mary Beth Hughes
as Miss Trimmerback
-
Virginia Grey
as Pat Perfume Counter Clerk
-
Marjorie Main
as Lucy Dude Ranch Owner
-
Cora Witherspoon
as Mrs. Van Adams
-
Hedda Hopper
as Dolly Dupuyster
-
Dorothy Adams
as Miss Atkinson
-
Judith Allen
as Model
-
Maude Allen
as Cyclist
-
Gertrude Astor
as Nurse
-
May Beatty
as Fat Woman
-
Marie Blake
as Stock Room Girl
- Betty Blythe
- May Boley
-
Lillian Bond
as Mrs. Erskine
-
Veda Buckland
as Woman
-
Lita Chevret
as Woman Under Sunlamp
-
Dora Clement
as Woman Under Sunlamp
-
Nell Craig
as Nurse
-
Margaret Dumont
as Mrs. Wagstaff
-
Dot Farley
as Large Woman
-
Flora Finch
as Woman Window Tapper
-
Grace Goodall
as Head Saleswoman
-
Theresa Harris
as Olive
-
Winifred Harris
as Mrs. North
-
Grace Hayle
as Cyclist
-
Virginia Howell
as Receptionist
-
Muriel Hutchinson
as Jane Mary's Maid
-
Priscilla Lawson
as Hairdresser
-
Leila McIntyre
as Woman With Bundles
-
Butterfly McQueen
as Lulu Cosmetics Counter Maid
-
Natalie Moorhead
as Woman in Modiste Salon
-
Florence O'Brien
as Euphie
-
Hilda Plowright
as Miss Fordyce
-
Aileen Pringle
as Miss Carter Saleslady
-
Jo Ann Sayers
as Debutante
-
Dorothy Sebastian
as Saleswoman
-
Peggy Shannon
as Mrs. Jones
-
Mildred Shay
as Helene the French Maid
-
Florence Shirley
as Miss Archer
-
Gertrude Simpson
as Stage Mother
-
Josephine Whittell
as Mrs. Spencer
-
Charlotte Wynters
as Miss Batchelor
-
Marjorie Wood
as Sadie Old Maid in Powder Room
-
Barbara Jo Allen
as Receptionist [uncredited]
-
Carolyn Hughes
as Salesgirl at Modiste Salon
-
Ruth Findlay
as Pediatrist
-
Mariska Aldrich
as Singing Teacher
-
Estelle Etterre
as Hairdresser
-
Rita Gould
as Dietician
-
Charlotte Treadway
as Her Companion
-
Ruth Alder
as Woman Under Sunlamp
-
Dennie Moore
as Olga Manicurist
