The Women (1939)

A Great Film

"Remember, it is being together at the end that matters."
~ "Mrs. Moorehead" in Clare Booth Luce's "The Women"

"The Women," one of the many spectacular films of 1939, explores love, marriage and divorce from the strictly female point of view. Not a single male character is shown in the film, nor in the play by Clare Booth Luce, upon which the movie was based, although the conversation constantly swirls around the husbands and boyfriends of the protagonists. While the women involved are wealthy socialites, many of their follies, sins and heartbreaks are those which pervade the lives of the female sex in every time and place. The ease of securing a divorce, however, is an issue confronting modern people; Mrs. Luce dissects with slow, brilliant cruelty the pain and devastation that goes with breaking up a family. No matter how cordial and legally effortless the parting of ways can be, it is almost impossible to escape upheaval, scandal, and tears.

The Women revolves around the lovely Mary Haines (Norma Shearer), who discovers that her previously devoted husband Stephen is having an affair with a shop girl. The gossip of her friends contributes in no small way to the destruction of the situation. The pivotal moment is when Mary refuses to listen to the wise words of her mother, Mrs. Moorehead (Lucile Watson) who begs her to ignore the infidelity and stop confiding in her friends. "They will see that you lose both your husband and your home." She also implores Mary to consider her young daughter, who must come first no matter what.

Indeed, the little girl is torn to pieces when Mary tells her that the divorce is imminent. One of the saddest scenes shows the child sobbing in private, "Oh, Mother, oh, Daddy!" knowing that the home she has known is gone forever. It is also disturbing how the daughter must later have to deal with her father's cheap new wife. Watching "The Women" always makes me annoyed at both Mary and Stephen for allowing their child to be exposed to such circumstances. But Mary wants to get back at her husband for hurting her more than she wants anything else. She seeks divorce on almost an impulse as pain dominates her reason. She comes to bitterly regret it.

In spite of the heaviness of the topic, "The Women" is fraught with humor; the dialog is one of the wittiest ever to grace the screen. And I do not think that there is single weak performance. Norma Shearer is sweetly sympathetic even when it would be nice to slap her. Joan Crawford is at her slutty best as "Crystal," the callous home wrecker. Rosalind Russell is hilarious as the gossiping Cousin Sylvia, who basically rejoices over Mary's misfortune. Paulette Goddard is the goodhearted wench who tells Mary what's what. A remake is debuting this year; it seems a little coarser and less elegant than the original, but then, of course, it is a reflection of our time.
June 25, 2008

Joan Crawford is a stone cold beyotch in this one!

This movie rocks! The cast was stellar. The idea of gossip and its consequences is a great theme for a movie/play. Joan Crawford, although her part was small, played it to the hilt. The parting comment after the final showdown was a "Oh no, she didn't just say that!" momement. Rosalind Russell as a nasty woman, yet with a lot of physical comedy was excellent. I thought that fact that they didn't show the husbands was one of the best techniques ever. June 13, 2008

Wicked Wacky Women Deilver

With its powerhouse of 1930s blockbuster ladies, this movie delivers a one-two punch: unbeatably clever dialogue and a cast of all women. Although in many ways, it is a true "period piece" (with its beautiful Adrian clothes) and yes, women lives different lives today, it still rings true and its story and acerbic writing is just stellar and timeless.

Every part is perfectly cast and it is such a well put-together cinematic gem. Don't miss it!

I saw this for the first time when I was about 14 (in the 70s) and I think teenage girls today might relate really well to it. The Grande Dame of Chick Flicks! June 4, 2008

Just ok.

The Women is considered a classic and although some parts are funny, this film isn't a winner. Joan Crawford is great as the "other woman" and Norma Shearer is such a sweet and sensitive actress but othewise than The Women is a letdown. I guess you can call this dramedy anti-feminist but I think this is how real women really act. Love it or hate it, this chick flick deserves a viewing. April 23, 2008

Cyrstal does it better

Besides perhaps "Mildred Pierce," "The Women" is absolutely Joan's most famous and much-loved classic film. I really love this movie because it's so well put together, all of the performances are tops and the story is second to none. As you may know already, in this film, Joan plays man-eater, Crystal Allen. Crystal will stop at nothing to sink her claws into Mr. Stephen Haines. And of course it doesn't matter to her that he's a presumably happily married man to everyone's favorite sweetheart, Mary, otherwise known as Mrs. Stephen Haines.

My favorite clips from this movie are probably your favorites as well. I love the scene with Joan in the bathtub on the phone (they didn't have cordless phones back then so it behooves the imagination, where exactly did she stick the cord?) I love the fashion show and the part with Crystal being confronted by holier-than-thou Mary.

When Joan had a hit, she often loved to make 2 or 3 more movies with very similar plots because she didn't want to disappoint her public. A couple of years after filming "The Women," Joan made a similar movie, "When Ladies Meet." The plot is very similar, but the script and and overall performances were nowhere near as sensational as in this.

Even during Hollywood's Golden Age this film still stands out. The movie almost has an operatic feel to it because it's almost like a musical. All of the lines are almost magical or even poetic.

After 75 years, Joan can still heat up the screen with any number of her classic motion pictures! Like Exile said: she's a miracle, a site to see! April 19, 2008

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