If you ask any group of film buffs to name Hollywood's pinnacle year --it's "best year ever"-- chances are that "1939" will be uttered quickly and then argued about. That was the year that brought us Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Ninotchka and at least a dozen other extremely beloved films. Also strutting around in theaters that year was a bitchy but endearing comedy/melodrama mix. The film's impressive star line up was headlined by Norma Shearer as Mrs Stephen Haines. She was orbited by stars of similar (or then just-lesser) stature: Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard and Joan Fontaine among them. Even with the mega-wattage and box office pull of the stars The Women bore the sexist, reductive tagline:
“It’s all about men!”
Not that it isn't about men, I must quickly add. Or at least women's ideas about the men in their lives. The drama and comedy in The Women comes from the way the gathered actresses fight over men, adore men, adjust themselves for men, connect themselves to men and sabotage each other --presumably also for men. What? You thought with Roz Russell and bitchtastic Joan Crawford in the mix that this wouldn't be catty?
Continue reading... for more on this starry 30s comedy.
Tags: movies, cinema, The Women, comedy women, film, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer,MGM
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4 comments:
l'amour, l'amour!
i shudder at the thought of a remake
I still have never seen this, but an opportunity to finally remedy that comes this Dec. 30th at the Castro Theatre (double-billed with His Girl Friday) and I just might take it.
Shudder indeed. Now the rumored cast is said to include Candice Bergen (in lieu of La Bening?), Anne Hathaway (in lieu of Ashley Judd?), Lisa Kudrow (in lieu of Uma?), and still Meg Ryan.
I don't know who'll fill the last slot (in lieu of Sandra Bullock), but that's casting down, isn't it? I'm afraid this remake doesn't have a prayer.
R.I.P-ieces.
M
Interesting that you bring up The Women. I was just at the IMDB page for it, and Anne Hathaway is amongst those rumored to be in it. Others? Candice Bergan, Meg Ryan, and Lisa Kudrow.
Interesting to say the least.
Hmm, I see anonoymous beat me to the punch.
I think the casting (if it goes down) would be interesting to say the least.
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