Front Page Woman (1935) User Reviews

For its Time--a Rare Feminist Film

[Kittyman · 7/10 · 24 May 2011]

"Front Page Woman" (1935) uses the same feminist "rivals in business; partners in love" motif that "Traveling Saleslady" (1935) does. However, "Woman" is a murder mystery involving reporters; "Saleslady" is a comedy involving salespersons. Still, it's interesting to compare the two.

Both films have great supporting performances, excellent pacing, and flawless plots. Playing masters of their fields, both leading men (George Brent) and (William Gargan) perform well. Indeed, a surprisingly animated Brent does, for him, an absolutely charming job. (Perhaps the mutual sexual attraction he and Davis had was the spark behind it.) Where the films differ, however, is in their leading ladies' performances, and in their romantic resolutions.

Bette Davis, like Joan Blondell, keeps claiming she is her rival's equal. But clearly, unlike Blondell, she is not. She doesn't have Brent's creative mind, his street smarts, his social skills, or his stomach for the job (she faints, for example, at the execution she demanded to attend). When he offers her help, she turns him down, and when, out of revenge, he sets traps for her, she falls into them.

The film's end, however, does offer redemption. Not only does Davis solve the mystery, and get her job back--she also gets her man. Brent, in a rare feminist resolution for its time, tells her how much he respects what she has done, and seems willing to have her continue working after marriage. (One wonders how much the steel-willed Davis influenced this outcome?) Whether she chooses to, however, is more ambiguous. While Blondell, in stark contrast, blithely tosses away a terrific sales career to placate her "oinky" husband to be.

A better than average Bette Davis film from the mid-1930s

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 15 April 2007]

Bette Davis plays a plucky female reporter who just got the chance to do lead stories--those traditionally done exclusively by men. A rival reporter, George Brent, is in love with her but also has little respect for her "trying to make it in a man's world"--so naturally she refuses to marry a man who doesn't respect her. In the midst of their arguments, Brent proposes a contest to see which can get the biggest scoop during a murder investigation and the subsequent trial. Now this all could have been very predictable or sexist, but somehow both pitfalls were avoided.

Sure, this isn't the deepest or best film that Bette Davis made in her long and distinguished career, but for the mid-1930s it's pretty good stuff. Although Warner Brothers employed one of the finest actresses of all time in the form of Miss Davis, up until the late 30s, they bounced her around from bad to mediocre to top of the line films and back again! So inconsistent were these roles that even after being Oscar nominated (OF HUMAN BONDAGE) and receiving the Oscar (DANGEROUS), Miss Davis STILL bounced around the studio in predictable programmers, B-movies AND A-films as well. As a result, she walked out of her contract (briefly).

Despite all this, FRONT PAGE WOMAN was a good film for her career--as it was quite enjoyable, gave her a chance to appear with her favorite leading man (George Brent) and gave her a decent (though not always believable) leading role. The film is a typical battle of the sexes film which weren't especially uncommon during Hollywood's Golden Age and like many of these films (such as PAT AND MIKE and WOMAN OF THE YEAR), it was a lot of fun. Plus, the chemistry between Davis and Brent was wonderful and I wish their films together got more attention--they are always enjoyable even when the writing isn't up to snuff (as in a few of their films together).

the one about the male and female competing reporters

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 16 June 2013]

Bette Davis and George Brent star in "Front Page Woman," a 1935 film from Warner Brothers. Davis and Brent, of course, were often paired, and they make a cute couple here. Davis is reporter Ellen Garfield, and Brent is ace reporter Curt Devlin. They're in love, but competitive at the same time, Ellen determined to prove herself. Given the time period, Curt pooh-poohs Ellen's abilities, because of course as a married woman, she isn't going to be working. But she's not marrying him until she proves herself, and as far as working after marriage -- well, we'll see.

The two compete getting the story on a murder case, even listening at the keyhole during jury deliberation and both reporting opposite verdicts - and both making headlines. It's a game of oneupmanship all the way through.

Surprisingly feminist in its tone at the end, "Front Page Woman" is a fun film, with a hilarious performance by Roscoe Karns as a photographer thrown in. Always great to see Davis at any age. Here, young, blond, and vivacious, she's adorable.

Sassy Newspaper Comedy on TCM

[jayms · 17 November 2003]

Rival reporters Garfield and Devlin are also a couple who delight in scooping each other often to the detriment of their respective papers. Brent and Davis are charming together and have an easy rapport. Curtiz's workmanlike direction and the rapid fire dialogue still hold up well, helped by the story's hesitation to endorse traditional male/female roles. If this proto-screwball comedy has a flaw it's that Garfield never seems a savvy enough rival for Devlin despite topping him to keep their endless competition going. Reminiscent of `The Front Page' and `His Girl Friday.' Recommended.

Macho Warners newspaper crime caper that gets a boost from some feminism.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 8 June 2012]

When rival reporter and girlfriend Bette Davis passes out at the execution of a Broadway star found guilty of murder, the chauvinistic George Brent uses this to try and prove to her that a woman's place is behind the stove and that it is a man's job to report the news. This is Brent's romantic way of proposing which Davis turns down, determined to prove him wrong. They both end up working overtime to scoop each other over a murder which took place at a fire that Davis initially reported on. It leads to a lot of witty banter between them and many amusing situations with each of them tied until the final minutes as to who has the one-up on the other.

What could be a rather predictable battle of the sexes comedy with the man ultimatelty convincing the little woman to put on an apron and give up her career for him has the nice little twist of this not about to happen. It is one of the more feminist liberal views of a woman's career in the 30's from the most macho studio in Hollywood. Just a few years before, both Kay Francis (in "Man Wanted") and Ruth Chatterton (in "Female") tried but failed to get past what Warners felt a woman's place should be. Davis stands her ground here, but the secondary story of the murder that they are investigating is never as interesting as the interactions between the two leads. Singer Winifred Shaw is a rather dour femme fatale, but Roscoe Karns is amusing as Brent's photographer pal.

There are some amusing little character bits, particularly Mary Treen's as an too willing to be helpful nurse. The story is all wrapped up neatly with a great denouncement that ranks higher as a pro-women's film and could have been an interesting series.

Davis & Brent Reunited

[boblipton · 7/10 · 12 November 2019]

Bette Davis and George Brent are sort of engaged. They are also reporters on competing newspapers who keep swiping each others' stories in this fast-paced Warner Brothers movie, with the full stock company on display, in this engaging effort.

Warner Brothers worked these two actors hard in 1935. Brent made seven movies in 1935, Miss Davis five. Director Michael Curtiz also worked the script hard. He seems to pack two hours of dialogue into 82 minutes, mostly by having the actors start talking the instant the previous speaker has finished. There's tremendous chemistry between the two leads; they worked together in eleven movies. It's that chemistry that carries the movie, given a standard script; RKO seems to have made essentially the same movie twenty times to less effect.

Fun on the front page

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 19 December 2019]

Saw 'Front Page Woman' as a big fan of classic film. As somebody who liked the premise, which indicated that it would be quite a fun diversion as long as one didn't expect too much. Have said more than once about liking/loving other Michael Curtiz-directed films, with two of my all time favourite films being 'Casablanca' and 'The Adventures of Robin Hood'. Bette Davis and George Brent have been fine in other things, individually and even together.

A fun diversion 'Front Page Woman' turned out to be and it is worth seeing for anybody that likes racy for the time films, a nice chemistry between good casts and those involved on good if perhaps not great form. Though 'Front Page Woman' is also in my view a film that one shouldn't expect too much from, not for anybody expecting realism and am not trying to be snobbish or childish here (it does depend on the level of "unrealistic").

'Front Page Woman' is very nicely photographed and Davis looks fabulous in her wardrobe. As was usually the case, Curtiz's direction is efficient and he never seemed uncomfortable with the material. The story may not offer many surprises or realism in its depiction of newspaper life, but it has a lively energy throughout and is never less than entertaining.

The dialogue sparkles in its sharp wit, also being remarkably racy in particularly what it has to say on the working women. The chemistry between Davis and Brent is hard to resist, likewise with their performances. Brent getting the very slight edge.

Coming onto the not so good things, while never less than entertaining, 'Front Page Woman' is one of those "solid in all ways but not a lot exceptional" sort of films. If there were more surprises (even if just a few) and if it didn't try so hard in some places it would have been even better than it was.

Supporting cast are all competent but nobody is amazing or on the same level as Davis and Brent. Roscoe Karns in the most colourful supporting role coming closest.

In conclusion, entertaining. 7/10

Fun breezy 30s newspaper caper film

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 20 December 2022]

In this film, Bette plays Ellen Garfield, the sole female reporter for The Daily Star. Bette's character is engaged to Curt Devlin, portrayed by the ever reliable George Brent. Brent's character is also a reporter at the rival newspaper. Brent keeps pressuring Davis to marry him, but she won't until he admits that she is as good a "newsman" as he is. It seems that Brent, along with all the other men in this film, feel that Davis couldn't possibly be a good reporter, because she's a woman. As per usual in these types of films, Davis sets out to "scoop" her fiance and not only prove to him that she's a good newsman, but also prove to her employer and herself.

Davis and Brent both arrive at the scene of a fire to get the story for their respective newspapers. Davis' story ends up being a fluffy writing piece about the fire. Brent's story on the other hand, involves a missing persons case that results from the fire. Of course, Davis' employer is furious that her story is nothing and Brent found an angle that no other newspaper found. Davis is close to being fired, but she promises her employer that she'll come back with a new story, something really great and exclusive.

The remainder of the story involves Davis and Brent both investigating the same missing person case and trying to "out-scoop" each other at every turn. Davis has to continually deal with chauvinistic comments from her fiance and colleagues which only fuels her desire to prove them all wrong.

I thought this was a really fun film and enjoyed how the story and mystery progressed. While Brent is never exciting, I thought he was fine in this film and was a good foil for Davis. I can see why she made so many films with him--he was never going to outshine her. Perhaps this is why she didn't get along with male co-stars like Errol Flynn.

Brent & Davis were Great Together

[whpratt1 · 10/10 · 15 March 2007]

Greatly enjoyed this Betty Davis film which I had never viewed and found Davis at her very best in appearance and in a very light hearted role she portrayed as Ellen Garfield. I believe Davis was around 27 years of age when she appeared in this film and she was very charming and had a good supporting actor, George Brent, (Curt Devlin) who was a star reporter for his newspaper and was in competition with Ellen Garfield to get the big scoop or headline stopper for their respective newspapers. This couple were also love birds who had intentions to get married only under certain terms they agreed upon together, a sort of contest that would lead to some very important big steps in their lives. Veteran actor Roscoe Karns, (Toots O'Grady) was the photographer for Curt Devlin and gave a great supporting comical role through out the entire picture. This is a very enjoyable 1935 Classic film and I believe that Davis and Brent both gave outstanding performances. Enjoy.

Miscast dynamic reporter Bette Davis and ace reporter George Brent love each other but do what they can to out-scoop each other.

[Art-22 · 6/10 · 27 October 1998]

Bette Davis seems miscast as a hard-working dynamic reporter in a rivalry with star reporter, George Brent, who works for a different newspaper. The role is more suited to wise-cracking, fast-talking stars such as Glenda Farrell (who made a similar film, Blondes at Work (1938)), or Joan Blondell (who also made a similar film, Back in Circulation (1937)). Her make-up, too, belied her profession. With perfectly tweezed eyebrows and immaculately applied lipstick, she looked like, as well as sounded like, a Hollywood star rather than a reporter. Still, Bette Davis is always a pleasure to watch even if not perfect. She and Brent are supposedly in love, but she won't marry him until he admits she is just as good a reporter as he is. You would think he wouldn't place any obstacles in her path towards reporting equality, but his vanity won't allow that conclusion, so he does. After a jury comes to a "guilty" verdict in the trial both are covering, and the jurors leave the jury room, Brent sneaks in to examine the ballots so he can get an extra on the street as quickly as possible. But sensing Davis is following him, he replaces the ballots with ones that read "not guilty." With friends like that, who needs enemies? Davis does report the wrong verdict to her editor, leading to the two rival newspapers coming out at the same time with opposite verdicts. Davis gets fired because of this hostile and vicious act, but, of course, it's not the end of the story, and she does get the last laugh in the matter.

To Scoop Or Not To Scoop

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 26 January 2009]

With Bette Davis doing a role that Glenda Farrell or Joan Blondell was used to doing and George Brent standing in for James Cagney or Pat O'Brien, Front Page Woman is about a sob sister columnist wanting to prove she's as good at investigative reporting as the man she loves. Brent's a good guy all right, but he certainly believes that woman's place is in the home or writing a woman's column about same.

The chance comes when both are sent by their rival papers to cover a fire. The fire it turns out was only a ruse to cover the stabbing of a bigshot played by Huntley Gordon. As the investigation, arrest, and trial proceed, Davis and Brent go on scooping spree to show the other up who is the better reporter.

That kind of fun can certainly put a strain on a relationship and the two of them, Brent more so, play fast and loose with the criminal justice system to get that scoop over the other. In the end the crime revolves around a love triangle with Gordon, mystery lady Wini Shaw, and polo player Gordon Westcott.

Contrary to rumor Bette Davis could play comedy though it was not her strong suit. Her material is slight, but she does her best to rise above a role she's miscast in. Her devoted fans will certainly not turn away from Front Page Woman.

A BD sleeper--not well known but an absolute delight!

[journeygal · 9/10 · 25 November 2019]

It's the ubiquitous Bette Davis-George Brent matchup, but hey, if something works... In this case, they are two reporters, working for opposing newspapers. She's a sole female in a sea of males, and all of them think women writers are only useful as 'sob sisters', writing fluff pieces. Ellen Garfield is out to prove she's better than the best male out there, who just so happens to be Curt Devlin...her boyfriend. That they're in love with each other does not stop their competition--in fact, it probably increases their need to one-up each other.

It starts with a female prisoner execution. Curt warns her off the actual viewing, and she overhears other reporters talking about how bad the electric chair is. She digs in, determined to prove how tough she is, and of course she's not very tough at all. When she faints afterward, Curt takes pity on her and calls in a favor over at The Daily Star, Ellen's paper. He sends over the same copy he wrote for his paper (The Daily Express) with a note for the guy he knows there to switch it up a little. Unfortunately the note is overlooked and both papers go out with the exact article. Bosses are infuriated, Devlin's embarrassed, Ellen is upset that Curt felt he needed to cover for her. It's a mess.

Then a ritzy apartment building catches fire and while newspaper MEN are allowed behind police lines, newspaper WOMEN are not. So Ellen is blocked from getting closer, but it just so happens that she is positioned to see and hear a few huge clues as two men make their getaway in a taxi. She doesn't realize it at the time, however, and stands there fuming over not being taken seriously by any man.

Then she gets the scoop of one of the men from the apartment fire is under a pseudonym at the local hospital and he is dead from a knife wound to the gut. What follows is just a hilarious back and forth as both Ellen and Curt pledge their love of one another while going behind each other's back, blatantly stealing info from one another and even going so far as to set up an empty jury room with mock ballots so that one scoops the correct verdict and the other gets fired for the incorrect verdict. And so on it goes until Ellen eventually solves the mystery and agrees to marry poor Curt once he admits that she is the better reporter.

I really enjoyed this movie--the writers were superb in crafting witty repartee. I found myself laughing out loud several times during the movie. Curt's photographer, 'Toots' (Roscoe Karns) has some of the best lines. In one instance they are searching for a possible witness but are told she died seven months earlier. Curt says "Ah, the perfect alibi." which made me smile. Then Toots tops it with "We don't want to see her then" before beating a hasty retreat and I had to rewind because I was laughing so hard. I've seen about 70% of BD movies yet for some reason had not caught this one. I'm glad I did, as it is now one of my favorites of hers. Well worth a watch, if you can catch it.

Davis-Brent beginning to gel

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 17 March 2013]

Memo to Michael Curtiz (director): Before you begin filming, decide whether your story is a drama or a comedy.

From my perspective, that's the main problem that kept this good film from being great. I see it more as a drama, yet others see it more as a comedy. And that confusion is often a problem for a film. Yes, you can have moments of drama in a comedy. And, yes, you can have levity in a drama. But movies with split personalities don't often work, or at least (as in this case) don't work as well as they could. And just for the record, this would have been best as a straight drama.

On the other hand, the screen pairing of Bette Davis and George Brent was beginning to mature here. In 1934 -- just a year earlier -- they were paired in "Housewife". There, they were just two actors in the same film. Here, just one year later, they are developing that on-screen rapport that was magic in so many movies. Oh, it's not quite there yet, but in this film you begin to think that you'd like to see them together more.

In terms of supporting cast, I found Roscoe Karns as the wise-cracking photographer a bit annoying. One out of every ten wisecracks were actually funny. The other supporting actors do their jobs, but none stand out. However, you will recognize quite a few faces.

Overall, a pretty good movie, though not one of the classic Davis - Brent efforts.

Front Page Woman-Don't Run to Read or See All About It **1/2

[edwagreen · 4/10 · 15 March 2007]

Routine Bette Davis and George Brent film devoted to two reporters, who love each other but work for rival papers, trying to scoop each other on a murder story. Davis becomes very good at searching for clues but Brent is in it to bag the story while getting the news before Garfield. (Davis)

As the film goes on, Davis acts as if she is one of her usual no nonsense broad. Rosalind Russell would have been far better for the role; although, Davis does an adequate job as well as Brent.

Roscoe Karns provides some funny comic relief as the photographer caught up in mayhem as well.

J. Carrol Naish is wasted as the brother of the eventual murderer.

This picture probably formed the basis for films such as "His Girl Friday" and reminds me of "The Front Page."

stay together

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 30 October 2020]

Ellen Garfield (Bette Davis) and Curt Devlin (George Brent) are combative reporters at rival newspapers who are in a relationship. She faints during an execution and he tries to cover for her. She gets into trouble after he files the same story to both papers. They continue their back and forth banter while she refuses to marry him. They start following the same story of a Broadway murder mystery.

The first notable aspect is that she's not a good reporter for the first part of the movie. I'm surprised that a woman wouldn't be fired or at least demoted to wedding announcements after fainting. Nevertheless, the dialogue is snappy. The leads especially with Davis are fun. It's light except for the murder. My only complaint is that this movie needs more time with the leads together. They should be investigating as a team but trying to scoop each other in print.

As it had done just three years earlier . . .

[oscaralbert · 7/10 · 12 April 2018]

. . . with 20,000 YEARS IN SING SING, Warner Bros. again warns America that inept cops, venal prosecutors, lazy judges, and disinterested jurors are corruptly cooperating to guarantee that the more innocent a "Capital Murder" defendant, the more likely he or she is to be murdered at taxpayer expense by what passes for the "government" of the USA. FRONT PAGE WOMAN documents a jury in cahoots with a soup-slurping judge, having no qualms about frying an innocent ethnic citizen as long as their breakfast bacon sizzles on time. All right-thinking Americans know that the so-called U.S. "Justice System" is a total farce, as depicted in FRONT PAGE WOMAN. If you can swindle your way to Big Bucks by laundering boat loads of stolen wealth for the Red Commie KGB, you can Lord it over everyone else from the White House Oval Office while breaking every "law" on the books. Meanwhile, the Little People get the Juice, Warner Bros. warns us in FRONT PAGE WOMAN. Criminal trials are even easier to rig than Presidential Elections, this flick reveals.

Investigative Reporting

[lugonian · 7/10 · 17 November 2019]

FRONT PAGE WOMAN (Warner Brothers, 1935), directed by Michael Curtiz, is a newspaper movie, as indicated through its opening credits with assortment of front page newspaper views flowing across the screen. Starring Bette Davis and George Brent for the fourth time, FRONT PAGE WOMAN is actually their first in which they are the actual leading players competing of equal status vying for a good story. Though many claim the Davis role might have benefited better with type-cast sob sister types of either Glenda Farrell or Joan Blondell, Davis shows she can be just good a lady reporter than anyone else.

Ellen Garfield (Bette Davis), reporter for The Daily Star, is loved by rival ace reporter, Curt Devlin (George Brent), of The Daily Express. While Ellen is just another gal reporter to many, she wants to show she can be just as good a reporter than any man in the business, particularly Curt. One of her first big assignments is covering the execution of showgirl, Mabel Gaye at North Prison, for the murder of her lover. With Ellen feeling ill following the execution, Curt covers up for her, unwittingly producing both his and her story to both newspapers word for word. Spike Riley (Joseph Crehan), her editor, decides to give Ellen another chance to redeem herself by offering her another assignment, this time covering a four-alarm fire at the Granger Arms apartments. Unable to get through the police lines by Officer Hallohan (J. Farrell MacDonald), in spite that Curt and his photographer assistant, "Toots" O'Grady (Roscoe Karns) are able to get through to get their stories, Ellen soon notices Maitland Coulter (Gordon Westcott) escorting the injured Broadway producer, Marvin Q. Stone (Huntley Gordon) out of the burning building and into a cab hailed by Hallohan. Before taking off, Ellen overhears them talking about some mystery woman sneaking out the back way. Ellen's hunches lead her to the Plaza Hospital where she locates Stone, registered there under an assumed name of James Craig, who had died of a stab wound. With enough evidence regarding his murder, Ellen does some further investigating of her own by going after the mystery woman identified as Inez Cordoza (Winifred Shaw), and get herself a real good scoop before Curt or anybody else does. Others in the cast include: Walter Walker (Judge Ritchard); J. Carroll Naish (Robert Cordoza, Inez's brother); Dorothy Dare (Mae LaRue); June Martel (Olive Wilson), Addison Richards (District Attorney), Mary Treen, Selmar Jackson and Mary Foy in smaller roles. Interestingly, FRONT PAGE WOMAN did get a chance to have Glenda Farrell tackle the Davis role three years later as part of the "Torchy Blane" mystery series titled BLONDES AT WORK (1938) opposite Barton MacLane. Though Winifred Shaw is best known for her singing roles, FRONT PAGE WOMAN offers her a rare change of pace in a dramatic performance.

With Davis, still youthful and blonde, learning her acting craft from the bottom up, FRONT PAGE WOMAN offers her a good assignment assuming the role similar to her own personality - that of an ambitious woman needed to be taken seriously in what she does. Being a grand mix of drama with sappy dialogue, FRONT PAGE WOMAN is also fast-pace newspaper story with few lulls in between. For a Bette Davis movie, there is a long stretch where she's absent for ten plus minutes in favor of investigative reporting provided by George Brent and Roscoe Karns (the comedy relief). Though the "Toots" role could have been enacted by Warners resident "second banana" Frank McHugh, Roscoe Karns' interpretation as the photographer offers a different but welcoming feel for this production. One of the more memorable moments in humor that occurs both here and BLONDES AT WORK is during the trial where reporters overhear paper boys outside the courthouse yelling the headlines reading both "Guilty" and "Not Guilty" before the actual verdict is to be read aloud. It's interesting in movies such as this how quickly headlines with full stories go to press and on the news stands in bundles twenty minutes after story is called in to the quick rewrite rather as opposed to the following day.

Available on DVD, FRONT PAGE WOMAN, which used to broadcast regularly on commercial television's late show during the 1960s and 70s, can be found on cable television's Turner Classic Movies. The 83 minute production does overall offer a fine viewing of Davis and Brent a few years before their prime pairing of DARK VICTORY (1939), often hailed as their finest collaboration of eleven movies together. Read all about it! (***)

front page woman

[mossgrymk · 5/10 · 9 June 2022]

I suppose if you've not seen "His Girl Friday" then this 30s newspaper comedy/drama will strike you as hard hitting and witty. But if you have already watched Hawks' classic then it's a pale alternative.

Davis smiles light up this film of rival reporters

[SimonJack · 8/10 · 20 July 2016]

By the time she made this film, Bette Davis had been in more than two dozen movies, and she had attained leading lady status. Never known or remembered for comedy, she nevertheless made several comedies and this is one of her early ones. In "Front Page Woman," Davis has the looks and smarts that make her a competing "newspaperman," to rival journalist and boyfriend George Brent.

Davis plays Ellen Garfield and Brent is Curt Devlin. A good supporting cast is headed by Roscoe Karns as Toots, a news photographer. All the cast are good and Ellen and Curt have a friendly rivalry for getting the front-page story. At times they are very serious, but love is in the making with these two. As the plot unfolds here, the two match wits to solve a crime and get the big front-page splash ahead of the cops and one another.

It's a fun story and the leads have very good chemistry. Davis smiles a lot in this film – something moviegoers didn't see very often with this giant of the silver screen over five decades in her many serious, dramatic and mystery roles. It's nice to see Davis with Brent, whom she considered among her favorite leading men. It's easy to see why he was her favorite in this film. He has an affable, kind persona here, even as an otherwise shrewd and accomplished reporter.

Most people should enjoy this film.

One of the Great Ladies of American cinema gives it a go at comedy.

[OldieMovieFan · 5/10 · 4 June 2023]

Here is a film which shows with great clarity just how difficult it is to be a great comedienne. Davis' native humor shines through all right, glimmering and warm, but her timing is weak, very weak indeed. It isn't the script or the direction, they're both strong. The dramatic turn of the shoulders, the hard gaze up at a leading man, the cutting voice, all the things made Bette Davis a famous actress in drama and melodrama, work against her in comedy. None of the mannerisms and acting tricks she used throughout her career help her when she's trying to be funny. She's far outside of her "comfort zone" here and it's admirable of her to work outside of her strengths, and a shame that she didn't do more comedy, because she likely would have improved if she had.

Brent on the other hand gives a great performance, and he proves it was no fluke a few months later with Kay Francis in the terrific "The Goose and the Gander." Then if any questions remained, he doubled down as he finished the year in the Ginger Rogers vehicle "In Person" where he shows that he can be an effective leading man with one of the two or three greatest comediennes in the history of American film (with Jean Harlow and Lucille Ball).

Still, comedy is a matter of taste - some people actually think Katharine Hepburn was funny, though it's impossible to see why - and this movie leaves one wishing there were more comedies from Bette Davis.