When Ladies Meet (1933 film)

• Ann Harding: Claire Woodruf
• Robert Montgomery: Jimmie Lee
• Myrna Loy: Mary Howard
• Alice Brady: Bridget Drake
• Frank Morgan: Roger Woodruf

When Ladies Meet is an American comedy film starring Ann Harding and Robert Montgomery in 1933, directed by Harry Beaumont.

Action

The journalist Jimmy Lee has long been in love with the well-known author Mary Howard. At a reception, the wealthy, slightly ditzy socialite Bridget Drake is, he makes her an impromptu marriage proposal. To his surprise, it rejects from Mary with ducted air, to be his wife. She has fallen in love with her ​​publisher Rogers Woodruff, who also makes her advances. Meanwhile, friendly and well-behaved wife Claire suspects meanwhile nothing of the affair. Jimmy, Mary wants to win for himself, contrives an intrigue by not only themselves, but also can set Claire secretly on the guest list by Bridget Drake, as they hosted a glamorous weekend meetings in the country.

While Jimmy flirts with Claire, these suspects still not what secret connects her husband with the cultured and courteous Mary. Jimmy and Claire finally agree to a sham to start a relationship in order to make Mary jealous. Since Mary does not know that it is the wife of Rogers Claire, she confesses to her one evening that she is in love with a married man. As well as Rogers arrives on the scene, Claire learns of the affair, after all her husband. It follows a dramatic argument, whereupon Claire decides to leave Rogers. After they drive away in a taxi, her travels behind Rogers ruefully. Deeply moved and embarrassed recognizes Mary, how hopeless their love for Rogers. She gives him and accepted the request of Jimmy.

Background

Ann Harding in 1929 came to Hollywood, where she signed a contract with the gutdotierten film company Pathé Exchange, Inc.. Within months, they had already been risen to become one of the top stars of the talkies and 1930, nominated for an Oscar as Best Actress for her performance in Holiday. With the acquisition of Pathé by the newly formed company RKO Pictures the end of 1930, however, her career began to dwindle rapidly. Constant bickering to appropriate scripts, bad decisions and increasing internal competition by new stars like Katharine Hepburn and Irene Dunne led to an ongoing crisis. Since 1931, none of her films had more recorded a profit. End of 1932, Harding signed a contract for three films at MGM in the hope to meet you there on better scripts and more professional working conditions. The first project, the adaptation of When Ladies Meet was tackled. The film is based on the eponymous play by Rachel Crothers, the Broadway brought it in the winter season 1932/33, to 173 performances including Spring Byington played the role of Bridget Drake like in the movie. MGM filmed the substance in 1941 again under the title When Ladies Meet, this times with the All Star cast of Joan Crawford, Greer Garson, Robert Taylor and Herbert Marshall. The occupation saw first Kay Francis in the role of Claire and Harding as Mary before, before Francis was replaced by Myrna Loy and Harding opted for the role of long- suffering wife. Loy and Harding had previously worked together on The Animal Kingdom one year. Myrna Loy characterized her co-star later than very well educated, but also reserved and restrained. Personal conversations there had never been with Harding. This view was shared by many of Harding's colleagues.

During the filming, there was an incident when the playwright George Bernard Shaw on March 28, 1933, the set and visited by some unkind remarks Ann Harding brought to tears so that they had to take refuge in their wardrobe. A few days later, asked about the incidents and whether they would continue to shun roles in Shaw - pieces, said Harding, who was known for its open nature:

" The misfortune [ Shaw ], to have survived themselves, adversely affect the value of his earlier and brilliant work is not in the slightest. "

1937 Harding then celebrated with her ​​performance in Shaw's Candida one of her greatest stage success.

Awards

When Ladies Meet received at the Academy Awards 1934 nomination

• Best Art Direction ( Cedric Gibbons )

Criticism

Most reviews were benevolent and particularly praised the nuanced interplay of Ann Harding. Photoplay, one of the most famous film journals of the time was downright enthusiastic:

" Ann Harding's serene and heartbreaking rebuke her husband is masterful and Myrna Loy has never been marketed as excellent a character on the screen."

References and further reading

Scott O'Brien: Ann Harding: Cinema 's Gallant Lady, Bear Manor Media, New York 2010, ISBN 1-593-93535-8.