The Devil and Miss Jones (1941)

Director:

Sam Wood

Writer:

Norman Krasna (written by)

Release Date:

11 April 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

A tycoon goes undercover to ferret out agitators at a department store, but gets involved in their lives instead.

Plot Keywords:

Union Organizing | New York City New York | Knocked Unconscious | Beach House | Butler

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Jean Arthur	...	Mary Jones
Robert Cummings	...	Joe O'Brien
Charles Coburn	...	John P. Merrick
Edmund Gwenn	...	Hooper
Spring Byington	...	Elizabeth Ellis
S.Z. Sakall	...	George - Merrick's Butler
William Demarest	...	First Detective
Walter Kingsford	...	Mr. Allison
Montagu Love	...	Harrison
Richard Carle	...	Oliver
Charles Waldron	...	Needles
Edwin Maxwell	...	Withers
Edward McNamara	...	Police Desk Sergeant
Robert Emmett Keane	...	Tom Higgins
Florence Bates	...	Store Shopper

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #6464) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Company:

Frank Ross-Norma Krasna Inc.

Trivia:

George Watts was in studio records/casting call lists as "Watchman," but he was not seen in the movie. Edward Fielding and Frank O'Connor were listed as cast members in news items, but they also were not seen.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the beach scene, the people in the background change completely from shot to shot. However, the crowd in the opening shot of the beach scene is the same as the one in the final shot.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Devil and Mr. Jones (1975)

Soundtrack:

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

Labor Day Sale

Norman Krasna, was one of the best screen writers in the movies of the period. Sam Wood shows his ability to direct this excellent cast in one of the most satisfying comedies about the distinctions between the moneyed classes and the working stiffs they employed.

If you haven't seen the film, please stop reading now.

J.P. Merrick, is a millionaire who has investments all over New York. It is to his amazement he sees himself burned in effigy in front of the department store he has forgotten he owns. Merrick, like all people in business don't want to appear to be exploiting the workers, but this is too much! He must put an end to it.

In disguising himself as a salesman, he goes directly where the problem seems to be coming from, the shoe department. There he meets Mary Jones, who immediately feels Tom Higgins, his assumed name, is a man that is going through a rough time in his life. Mary feels pity when she realizes he doesn't know a thing about salesmanship.

In spite of everything going bad for him as a shoe salesman, Tom sticks to his new persona. He only meets kindness from all the people he is trying to fire. Merrick, by the end of the first full day at the store feels the strain of being on his feet all the time; we watch him soaking his feet in hot water, aided by his butler, George. In the process of gaining knowledge about the trouble makers, Merrick becomes human. He gets to realize how wrong he has been about a life he has lived so alienated from.

"The Devil and Miss Jones" is a movie that will delight anyone wishing to have fun. Of course, this is a film that depends totally in the two principals, Jean Arthur, who plays Mary Jones, and Charles Coburn, who as J.P Merrick/Tom Higgins shows why they were about the best actors working in the cinema in the 30s and 40s in Hollywood. Not only did they bring such class to whatever they played, but they are totally convincing. Ms. Arthur was a natural and so was Mr. Coburn.

The rest of the cast is extraordinary. A young Robert Cummings is perfect in his role as the union man. Spring Byinton, an actress that appeared in many films, is a charming Elizabeth, the woman that steals Merrick/Higgins heart. In her first scene with Mr. Coburn, she sits in the park bench to have lunch and he has nothing to eat. She gives him one of her tuna popovers and clarifies for him she paid 12 cents for the can! What times! In minor roles, S. Z. Sakall is George, the loyal butler. Mr. Sakall is a joy to watch, no matter what picture, or what character he is playing. Also, Edmund Gwenn, who probably stayed behind to played Santa Claus for the store, makes an incredible Hooper, the man in charge of the shoe department.

Thanks to Sam Wood's inspired direction this is a film that will not cease to please.