The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937)

Director:

Richard Boleslawski

Writers:

Frederick Lonsdale (play)
Leon Gordon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 February 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

There is a big charity function at the house of Mrs. Cheyney and a lot of society is present. With her rich husband...

Plot Keywords:

Caper | Continental | Auction | Butler | Charity

Cast

Joan Crawford	...	Mrs. Fay Cheyney
William Powell	...	Charles
Robert Montgomery	...	Lord Arthur Dilling
Frank Morgan	...	Lord Francis Kelton
Jessie Ralph	...	The Duchess of Ebley
Nigel Bruce	...	Lord Willie Winton
Colleen Clare	...	Joan
Benita Hume	...	Lady Kitty Winton
Ralph Forbes	...	Cousin John Clayborn
Aileen Pringle	...	Maria
Melville Cooper	...	William 'Bill'
Leonard Carey	...	Ames, the Duchess' butler
Sara Haden	...	Anna
Lumsden Hare	...	Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard
Wallis Clark	...	George

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3058) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

A New York City, production opened on 9 November 1925 and had 385 performances. In the cast were Helen Hayes, Roland Young, Winifred Harris and Lionel Pape.

Goofs:

Continuity: As the ocean liner carrying the cast passes the Statue of Liberty, the name on the bow is "Rotterdam." Later, it's referred to as "the Northampton," and even later, as the "S.S. Britain."

Movie Connections:

Featured in Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

Joan with both Powell and Montgomery

Joan Crawford is a jewel thief trying to break into society in "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," a 1937 film from MGM also starring William Powell, Robert Montgomery, Nigel Bruce, Frank Morgan, and Jessie Ralph. It's a remake of a 1929 film which starred Norma Shearer. Crawford is a sophisticated and glamorous woman we first meet on board ship as she's maneuvering and flirting her way into the company of a society crowd. While doing so, she meets Lord Arthur Dilling (Robert Montgomery). He and Lord Kelton (Morgan) pursue her. Once in London, she wangles the one thing that she and her gang of thieves (led by William Powell as her butler) have been waiting for - an invitation to Lady Ebley's country home, and a crack at Lady Ebley's fabulous pearl necklace. All doesn't go as planned.

Given the star power, the film has some interesting moments, but for the most part, it's played too straight. A lighter touch was needed. This is perhaps a directorial problem (there were several) or the fact that Joan Crawford was better at drama than at comedy, and William Powell better at comedy than at drama. Powell does a great job, but it isn't much of a role. Audiences probably left the theater disappointed - perhaps part of the reason the film flopped at the box office. He doesn't have a lot to play off of, and no chemistry with Crawford. Robert Montgomery is his usual self in one of those roles that fit him like a glove, but the star trio is too somber.

Joan Crawford looks fabulous, and with a strong director who had a concept of the script, she would have been fine. She didn't have a grasp of playing comedy, but she was a hard worker who seemingly took direction well. It's a shame MGM spent all that money on what was a first-class production only to have it just lay an egg. Apparently some of the racier parts of the play version had to be left out due to the code. At times, the film drags.

Several of the comments blamed Crawford, some the script, but I do believe with the right director, "The Last of Mrs. Cheney" could have been a lot better.