Part of Weekend Classics: 1941’s Greatest Hits
It’s high-seas screwball comedy when a clueless heir (Henry Fonda) falls prey — twice — to a couple of gambling con artists posing as a father (Charles Coburn) and beautiful daughter (Barbara Stanwyck). But will she fall prey to him? Quick-witted, sparkling and assuredly sexy, THE LADY EVE is among the greatest romantic comedies ever made.
See also: SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS (Sun, Sep 27 + Tue, Sep 29)
“Now there's no question about it: Preston Sturges is definitely and distinctly the most refreshing new force to hit the American motion pictures in the past five years…. With THE LADY EVE, Mr. Sturges is indisputably established as one of the top one or two writers and directors of comedy working in Hollywood today. A more charming or distinguished gem of nonsense has not occurred since IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT. Superlatives like that are dangerous, but superlatives like THE LADY EVE are much too rare for the careful weighing of words. And much too precious a boon in these grim and mirthless times.” —Bosley Crowther, New York Times (Feb 26, 1941) “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.” —Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times “One of the most clever and satisfying romantic farces ever created for the movies.” —Gary Arnold, Washington Post “Writer-director Preston Sturges was a rare Hollywood man whose comedy hits were popular successes but also prized and praised by high-toned critics (and, not least, peers like Orson Welles and Billy Wilder). He was as at home sending up the snobbish absurdities of the wealthy-but-vulgar Pikes as he was with the cheerfully crafty world of down-to-earth slobs.” —Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
