 | 19 April 2002 |
The Lady Eve
Eve was quite a lady. "When Barbara Stanwyck's leg pushes up against Henry Fonda's white jacket it is one of the most erotic moments in American film." David Thomson [Salon.com]
Oh The Lady Eve is one of my all-time favorite films. Henry Fonda as the gauche millionaire scientist, Barbara Stanwyck as the maneating fraudster and card sharp on a boating cruise with her father (swindling their way through the well-heeled passengers). Comedy played 'straight'. I agree absolutely with David Thomson about the provocativeness of the shoe-fitting scene he describes. If memory serves right there's also a classic line of dialogue to go with that scene - can't remember the exact wording but it's something like Stanwyck saying to Fonda whilst he's looking up at her from the floor "See anything you like?" in a manner befitting Mae West. Until David mentioned it, jeez yes, you have to pinch yourself to remember how old the film is (released 1941), pre pill, pre sexual-revolution and yet Stanwyck lures the helpless Fonda dripping steamy innuendo and lingering looks (to get her hands on...his money), but of course, all done in the best possible taste...and yet it's all within the context of a great screwball comedy. A masterpiece!
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