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 not to be missed Oct 11, 2009
Preston Sturges dominated cinema comedy in the early 1940s and finished off the competition with several films that took the genre to a new place others have tried to reach, rarely successfully, ever since. His ability to combine slapstick with some of the subtlest eye gags and dialogue wit is breathtaking in this example of his work. He leads and deceives the audience with such a sure touch - only the director is more conniving than the con-men and con-women who dominate the story. Stanwyck is fabulous - sexy, yes, as others have noted (with expressed surprise). Fonda is the perfect prat (not so unsuspecting as to be vacuous). The supporting cast features many of the great character actors of the time. Coburn as the elder card shark delivers the deadpan stuff with his usual perfect pitch. This is a genuine laugh-out-loud comedy (the scene with the horse is a hoot) - but, if you aren't in tears from the humour (at a couple of points Fonda is unable to suppress a smile), you will marvel observing the amazing skill of the ringmaster. For any serious collection.
What a wonderful film Sep 11, 2009
The Bottom Line:
The film which convinced me that screwball comedies could create actual characters, movies from the 40s could make me laugh out loud, and Barbara Stanwyck was someone I would have wanted to go on a date with, The Lady Eve is nothing but fun through and through while still managing to make you care for the characters and hope they find happiness together at the end; a delightful picture, it has lost nothing of its charm since its release.
3.5/4
Risque in a way . . .but classy. Sep 04, 2009
This is a romantic comedy that actually if one reads through the lines is quite risque. But it is classily done, so it makes for a nice film. Barbara Stanwyck plays a clever and classy sidekick to her father's gambling entourage. They target the wealthy travelers and Henry Fonda plays the naive fellow who falls hook line and sinker for her. Well, of course, he gets wind of what is really going on and both of their feelings get extremely hurt. Fortunately, for everybody, Barbara Stanwyck's character doesn't give up and in the end all is well. Barbara Stanwyck, by the way, does a most convincing job of portraying a British Duchess. It was hard to believe it was the same person. Well done!
Great Screwball Comedy Apr 08, 2009
Awesome classic comedy from the Golden Era of Hollywood. The humor, dialogue and acting in this film is uncomparable. The chemistry between Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda is magnificent. This movie is hilarious from start to finish. It never ceases to amuse me. Guaranteed delight!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Good, but not that funny... Jan 28, 2009
Eve (Stanwyck) and her father (Coburn) are two con artists who meet the wealthy son of a beer brewer (Fonda) on a boat and decide to con him out of money. In the process of seducing him Eve ends up falling for him. However, when Fonda's character discovers her criminal ways, Eve must use her con artist talents to get him back.
Stanwyck and Coburn are great, and I loved watching them interact, especially when Stanwyck's character was trying to foil Corburn's attempt to cheat at cards. If the movie had more of that dynamic, I think I would have enjoyed it more. Since Coburn's character is absent most of the second half of the film and Stanwyck's character is playing a role different from her original one as the smoldering seductress, the element that captures your interest in the first half of the movie largely disappear by the second half.
The movie falters for me when it comes to Eve falling for Fonda's character. There is no reason why she should have fallen for him. He is shy, awkward, boring, and naive. He doesn't seem to distinguish himself from her other victims. She falls in love with him in a short amount of time, but there is no transition from target who she intends to fleece in cards to love interest. You don't realize there has been a change until she explicitly say so. She does offer one reason why she falls in love with him-- it was fun seeing him show her father a card trick. Well, since her father knows card tricks himself, I don't see why that would impress her. It could be the irony of Fonda's character unknowingly showing off a simple card trick to the master that amuses her, but again, I don't see why his naivete would make him more attractive than any of her other targets. If Fonda's character wasn't such a dolt, I think I would like the movie more because then her falling for him would have been believable.
Neither does Fonda seem to have the knack for screwball comedy that, say Carey Grant, does. Even when he does something crazy like trip over a sofa, it comes across as more awkward than funny.
I love old movies, but this movie didn't strike me as very funny. If you're looking for a great old comedy I would suggest something more like His Girl Friday, Arsenic and Old Lace, or It Happened One Night. If you just want to see Barbara Stanwyck in all her glory, then this film will not disappoint.
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