George Cukor was known as a director of "women's pictures" (sometimes derogatorily -- the phrase was a thinly veiled euphemism for gay directors), so it is not surprising that he directed a picture known simply as The Women. And oh, what a picture it was.Easily the cattiest comedy ever committed to celluloid, this comedic camp fest (based on the play by Clare Boothe Luce) starred an all-female cast (rumor has it that even the animals seen in it were all female) headlined by Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. To say that these two dueling divas (one at the beginning of her illustrious career, the other at the end of hers, arguably) did not get along is putting it mildly. They loathed each other. (I'm sure the above picture was not the first -- or last -- time Cukor had to get in between them). Rounding out the cast was Rosalind Russell, Joan Fontaine, Marjorie Main and even real-life gossip doyenne Hedda Hopper.
A musicalized remake, called The Opposite Sex, added men into the mix as well as some musical numbers. June Allyson, Joan Collins, Delores Gray, Ann Sheridan, Ann Miller, Joan Blondell and Agnes Moorehead starred, along with Leslie Nielsen and Jeff Richards as their objects of affection. Sadly, this often-overlooked gem is not yet on DVD, but it does appear occasionally on the Turner Classic Movies channel (keep an eye on "The Latest on TV" here at Movie Dearest for future airings).
The long in the works third feature version of The Women is currently shooting in Boston, with Diane English (of Murphy Brown fame) writing and directing. Just like the original, English has assembled an impressive all-star cast (back to "for ladies only" again): Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Annette Bening (in the roles played by, respectively, Shearer, Crawford and Russell), Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Joanna Gleason, Ana Gasteyer, Lynn Whitfield and Debi Mazar. (Yeah, I know. Wow!)
So far, it is not clear if this latest remake has been updated to the present day. Let's hope not; I saw a dreadful production of the play that transplanted the action to the "swinging 60's" and, believe me, the story only works in the period in which it was originally produced, the 1930's.
We will have to wait and see if the third time will be another charm for The Women, but with such an impressive ensemble, hopes are high on this end. These new recruits best be in top form though; they sure have big (shamefully expensive) shoes to fill.
Click here to purchase The Women
on DVD from Amazon.com.Links via Imdb.com, TCM.com and Variety.com.
3 comments:
Hey, another memorable 30's screwball comedy quote, this time from "The Women".
"There is a name for you, ladies, but it isn't used in high society... outside of a kennel"
The film The Opposite Sex is indeed a gem. I first saw it when I was 8 or so and was hooked. I finally saw The Women on the late movie and it has been my favorite movie experience since. The original 1939 film still is one of the most brilliant films to come out of Hollywood...cast, script and timing are better than the remake.
Another great quote, Josito. I'm also partial to this one:
"I've had two years to grow claws, mother. Jungle red!"
I'm looking forward to the new film, but I just don't see Meg Ryan being able to deliver that line correctly. We'll see!
I only just recently watched "Opposite Sex" and was pleasently surprised by it. Maybe because it isn't quite as talked about as the original, but I guess I assumed it was bad, which it wasn't. Certainly not as great as "The Women", but I still enjoyed it a lot. It makes for a fun counterpoint to the original.
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