The Women (Keepcase)
Starring: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, Paulette Goddard, Phyllis Povah, Joan Fontaine, Virginia Weidler, Lucile Watson, Marjorie Main, Virginia Grey, Ruth Hussey, Muriel Hutchison, Hedda Hopper, Florence Nash, Cora Witherspoon, Ann Morriss, Dennie Moore, Mary Cecil, Mary Beth HughesDirector: George Cukor
Studio: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Format: Closed-captioned, NTSC
Running Time: 132 minutes
DVD Release: June 14th 2005
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DVD Review
George Cukor, Hollywood's legendary "woman's director," had his hands full with the all-female cast of this 1939 film adaptation of the Clare Boothe play. The story finds a group of catty, competitive friends destroying reputations at social gatherings. The dialogue sparkles, Joan Crawford's performance as a husband stealer is still a classic, the film looks wonderful in Cukor's hands, and the Technicolor fashion-show scene is a one-of-a-kind Hollywood experience. --Tom Keogh
User Reviews
Not enough stars to accurately rate this movie!! - Rating: 5/5
This is by far one of my Very Favorite movies!!
"There is a name for you ladies, but it isn't used in high society... outside of a kennel..." - Rating: 5/5
Ignore myths of sisterhood. Women can be nasty, catty, devious, gossipy and gleeful -- especially about each other. So expect lots of that in "The Women," a screwball comedy about divorce, remarriage, affairs and lots and lots of inner feuding. It's a practically perfect girls' movie.
The uppermost ladies of Manhattan lunch, spa, shop and especially gossip together. So when Mary Haines' (Norma Shearer) hubby takes a perfume-counter mistress Crystal (Joan Crawford), the other women try to keep it from her. But Mary finds out, and after confronting her husband with his infidelity, she demands a divorce -- and so it's off to Reno with her goody-two-shoes pal Peggy (Joan Fontaine).
She spends the next few weeks at a ranch with other soon-to-be-divorced women, including her neurotic cousin, a much-divorced countess and a vixen. And though Mary still loves her husband, he feels obligated to marry Crystal. But then Mary's daughter reveals some juicy new information about Crystal -- and Mary's pals band together to help her set things right.
"The Women" is an all-star cast, with all women. Not a man to be seen or even heard (although I can't vouch for the animals) -- even the kids are all girls. This allows the attention to remain on The Women, whether it's the naive girls, kindly matrons or the catty hens.
The original play was by Clare Boothe Luce, but Anita Loos gives it her own witty spin. And Loos -- the original chick-litter -- knew how to spin witty, sparking dialogue without breaking a sweat ("She's got those eyes that run up and down a man like a searchlight!").
The plot moves at a fast pace, with the occasional lull, where we get some barbed dialogue about marriage and infidelity. Few movies can handle catfights in a really funny manner (Sylvia biting Miriam on the leg), throw in some insights about men and women's relationships, a dash of romance, revenge, and a climactic battle that involves a broom closet.
Shearer, Paulette Goddard and Mary Boland are all great as women hardened and strengthened by having their guy stolen; Rosalind Russell is hilarious as Shearer's immature, weirdly-dressed cousin, and Joan Crawford is as slimy and vicious as her role demands. The one dark spot is Virginia Weidler, who basically has to simper and whimper -- sadly, because she was delightful in "Philadelphia Story."
"The Women" prove that oftentimes, the female of the species is more deadly -- and more resourceful -- than the male. Hilarious, witty and wonderfully catty.
When Movies Were Fun... - Rating: 5/5
This film may have gone a long way to typecasting George Cukor as a "women's" director. The description was patently unfair because George Cukor was simply a great director, period. Such films as Philadelphia Story, Adam's Rib, A Double Life, Gaslight, and his uncredited work on Gone With the Wind clearly establish that he was one of Hollywood's great directors and not just a women's director.
The Women, which has long been a camp classic and fodder for many spoofs is a star-studded hoot. This is due in large part to the wonderful performances of Rosalind Russell, Norma Shearer (it is a shame that this Queen of MGM is not remembered well), Joan Crawford, Marjorie Main, Paulette Goddard, Joan Fontaine, and the hysterically delicious Mary Boland. The scene where Rosalind Russell and Phyllis Povah go to spy on Joan Crawford in the department store is high point as well as Mary Boland as the Countess DeLave decribing how she hates the mountains. Frankly anything Mary Boland did was wonderful (check out Pride and Prejudice). The performances of Joan Fontaine and Virginia Weidler (Little Mary Haines) seem dated now, however they fit wonderfully into the film.
The Women is a rarity because it is one of the only Hollywood films made where the cast is entirely women and there is no man to be seen. This is a must see for anyone who wants to see what Hollywood films once were. It will also make you wonder how in the hell they are going to pull of that rumored remake with Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan.
Women Are Women - Rating: 4/5
This is a great movie, I feel as I know these women. just go to show you women are women. LOL
A Classic - Rating: 4/5
This movie is a classic of old cinema. What great names with Norma Shearer and a young Joan Crawford. The great thing about this movie is that it really is "The Women". You do not see a man at all in this movie, although it is what they talk about. You have to love a movie that premieres in 1939 and is filled with talk of sex, divorce, affairs, cat fights, and comedy. This movie is completely worth the time and is a testement to a great movie with a baudy topic, but doesn't have to be rated R to get the point across.
