The Imperfect Lady

This is a surprisingly interesting thriller set in the Oscar Wilde world of 1892 with cheap theatres, ballets and dancers having a hard time in contrast to the highest levels of society with particular aristocrats being careful about not getting contaminated by scandals, which they can't avoid. Ray Milland is a liberal politician driving the Irish issue and the suffrage of women already in 1892, for which he is both furiously attacked by mobs and partly successful, who gets mixed up with Teresa Wright, lovely as usual in a role perfectly fitted for her, as a poor ballet dancer who for her beauty gets into trouble with ungentlemanly men. On one occasion she is saved by Anthony Quinn, a brilliant Spanish pianist in London who is out of work, and gradually finds himself in deep trouble. Only she can save him, but she is then already heavily mixed up with society and politics.

Music plays an important part here, it's practically only Chopin all the way, and at one instance Anthony Quinn performs an absolutely brilliant improvisation on the Nocturne opus 9:2. The action is fast throughout, and the blend between extremely different levels of society in the scandal problem produces an intrigue of lasting interest, growing more exciting all the time. Cedric Hardwicke makes a perfect lord of authority caring only about the particulars of a good name, but he does no harm although he is not to be trifled with. The theatre atmosphere settings of the Music Hall world of the 1890s (as found also in Chaplin's "Limelight") is wonderful and what will be the last thing you will forget about this film.

Some of the plot turns of The Imperfect Lady will have you shaking your head at the mistakes and bad judgment of the characters, but that's what makes an unforgettable story. Remember The Mayor of Casterbridge and Tess? Surprisingly, this movie wasn't based on a book. It definitely had the old-fashioned flavor of a novel, which I would definitely look forward to reading, but it was an original screenplay. Hats off to Karl Tunberg and Ladislas Fodor making their script authentic!

In the olden days, being an actress was only one step up from prostitution, so it's understandable that when Teresa Wright decides to pursue a career on the stage, her father disowns her. She's a good girl (then what is she doing in the theater?) but often consorts with people with lower morals. When she and her colleague, Virginia Field, have an accidental run-in with high-brow politician Ray Milland, he takes them for a pair of real ladies. Virginia puts on a phony accent and pretends she's well bred as well, and Ray falls for Teresa's natural sweetness.

Ray isn't the only accidental run-in the girls have. While walking home from work one evening (still in their stage makeup and looking like harlots), they're approached by a handsome smooth talker: Anthony Quinn. Teresa is outraged; she's no street walker! A nearby policeman doesn't believe her, and she finds herself accused and on the run - what's a lady to do?

There's so much more to this story, but I want to let it all unfold for you. It is very dramatic (and at times melodramatic), really fitting into the classic novel formula. Secrets, scandals, forbidden love, class distinction, and more that I won't spoil for you, are all found in The Imperfect Lady. Although Teresa doesn't put on an English accent, she tries awfully hard in this meaty role. I'd definitely recommend it, and I'm waiting for someone to write an after-the-fact novel that I can pick up!