Oh That Lady!

Last updated on: April 5, 2010 at 4:30 pm by J. Ryan Parker

Oh That Lady! 2010-04-05T16:30:45-07:00 J. Ryan Parker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

From cultural, theological, and moral perspectives, the Studio Era of Hollywood is a fascinating study. On one hand, conservative viewers might praise the absence of overtly offensive images on screen. On the other hand, more liberal viewers might bemoan the limited worldview (white, heterosexual, and decidedly middle to upper class…mostly) that these films often set forth. Yet, without question, the regulations against representation and dialogue forced writers and directors to be extremely creative when approaching potentially offensive material. As such, some of the films of that era represent the best in writing and editing. The genre that perhaps benefited the most from this reality was the romantic comedy, which was, then, so much sexier, funnier, and mature than the majority of contemporary contributions to the genre because of what the lovers didn’t (couldn’t) say or do but what their words and actions implied. One case among many…The Lady Eve (1941).

The Lady Eve stars Henry Fonda as Charlie Pike, a brewery heir who cares little for the family business and more about science: he’s an ophiologist (he studies snakes). On a return trip from the Amazon, he encounters Jean (Barbara Stanwyck) and her father Col. Harry (Charles Coburn), a couple of card shark swindlers looking to take advantage of Charlie. As Hollywood would have it, Charlie and Jean fall in love, but when he learns of her true identity, he pushes away and leaves her behind. Love struck and not a little spurned, Jean coordinates with another conman, Sir Alfred McGlennan Kieth (Eric Blore), becomes the Lady Eve Sidwick, and arranges a social gathering in her honor at Charlie’s parents’ mansion.

Charlie (Henry Fonda) assists Jean (Barbara Stanwyck) with a fresh pair of shoes.

When he meets the Lady Eve, Charlie swears he’s met her before, but she keeps him off her trail by donning a British accent and vehemently denying it. They fall for one another and get married, but on their honeymoon, Eve concocts stories of numerous previous lovers which, to her design, drives Charlie away and allows her to drop her fake identity. Back on another cruise liner, presumably headed for another expedition, Charlie just so happens to run into, of all people, Jean.

I wanted to see this film, in part, because Fonda is one of my favorite actors from this era (and all of film history), but also because of Roger Ebert’s comments on one particular scene. Ebert writes, “If I were asked to name the single scene in all of romantic comedy that was sexiest and funniest at the same time, I would advise beginning at six seconds past the 20-minute mark in Preston Sturges‘ The Lady Eve, and watching as Barbara Stanwyck toys with Henry Fonda’s hair in an unbroken shot that lasts three minutes and 51 seconds.” In this sexy, funny scene, romantic dialogue gets no richer than these exchanges between Jean and Charlie. Having spent a year in the Amazon, we recognize that the least little advance will send Charlie into an aroused spiral, and he literally melts in her arms. In fact, their conversation is just as erotic and exhausting as any torrid sex scene in more contemporary films. When they “finish,” she tells him, “I’ll sleep good tonight.” He grumbles in response, “Speak for yourself.”

Jean (Stanwyck) comes on to Charlie (Fonda).

The film is an absolute delight. Of course one could look at its title and title character as a problematic re-presentation of womanhood and women in films at that time. Its title obviously draws on the notion of Eve’s responsibility for the origin of sin in human history. In fact, the opening title credits feature a cartoon snake that weaves in and out of the titles and around incriminating apples. Jean also drops an apple on Charlie’s head as he boards the cruise liner where they meet. However, Jean is no “dumb broad.” She is creative in her pursuit of Charlie and in her attempts to get him back. Jean exhibits a boldness in donning her new identity that challenges Charlie’s intelligence, even though he “gets it” in the end. Throughout the film she goes toe-to-toe with all of her mail counterparts, besting them in both cards and banter. If you haven’t seen this classic, make it the next on your list.

The Lady Eve (94 mins.) is streaming on Netflix and available on DVD.

Film

Previous Post

April 2, 2010

Epic Fail

Next Post

April 7, 2010 Slapped Senseless

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Classics DVD Film Music News Pop Culture Events Print Sports Television Uncategorized Video Games

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who killed Goliath?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Jonathan Saul Samson