Bataille de dames

Very underrated comedy stars Marion Davies (in her final film) as a woman who frumps herself up to land a secretarial job. Because the frump is efficient, the boss (Robert Montgomery) continues to chase women: a conniving shrew (Marcia Ralston) and a blonde beauty (Davies!) who he meets at a nightclub. Role-reversal comedy is fun from the start with Davies at her comic peak as the dour frump. She's not afraid to look really bad. Excellent supporting cast includes Patsy Kelly, Allen Jenkins, Frank McHugh, Louise Fazenda, and Mary Treen. Once again Davies proves she had acting talent (given the right roles) and that was was a total delight. Her best comedy performances stand up against those of Carole Lombard, Myrna Loy, Jean Arthur or Irene Dunne. Catch this one.

I agree with the first comment, that I expected a poor picture and discovered a highly entertaining light comedy. Yeah, perhaps Marion Davies was typically too old to be playing what the reviewers called another "eye-batting ingenue," but she's not batting her eyes here. The entire concept of a woman succeeding based on her hard work, talent, and merit is taken quite seriously for a "silly comedy." This concept has been used time and time again, particularly with Laura La Plante in the English THE CHURCH MOUSE (35), and the earlier Warner BEAUTY AND THE BOSS, with Marian Marsh. La Plante was splendid, Marsh a bit inexperienced to carry off the entire chore, but Marion Davies plays with professional elan, and as usual, she is surrounded by folks who see to it that your time is never wasted - Patsy Kelly, Louise Fazenda, Frank McHugh, Allen Jenkins, and Barton MacLane. Bob Montgomerey was borrowed from MGM, and although he's certainly at home in such material, he doesn't seem to be enjoying the ride as much as the rest of the cast. Davies made four films at Warners, and although Jack Warner claimed they all made (highly suspect) profits, they were certainly lavish affairs. EVE was the final appearance, and although it was not PEG O' MY HEART or SHOW PEOPLE or WHEN KNIGHTHOOD WAS IN FLOWER, it is by no means a poor film, in fact, I would stack it against any later 30s film starring one of her contemporaries, say, Norma, Dolores, Janet, or Joan.

Marion Davies is Marge, a secretary who has trouble with unwelcome advances from her bosses. One day she hears of a job working for a publisher who only hires plain secretaries. So Marge gets a makeover and is plain enough to get the job. The lady publisher who employs her doesn't want her male writers distracted by pretty secretaries. So Marge is sent to work for writer Freddy Matthews (Robert Montgomery) and keep his mind on his job. Naturally this leads to a lot of complications. Marion Davies is very funny as Marge, and so is Patsy Kelly as Marge's down-to-earth friend Sadie. Robert Montgomery is delightful as always. I love this film, it's so funny, a pity it's not better known.

Marion Davies was a accomplished comedienne & actress who has been unfairly maligned because of her long standing affair & association w/ WR Hearst. He bankrolled & heavily promoted her career. This was her final film & she was 39 or 40 when she starred in it. She is still very attractive & 40 isn't old but for a woman in Hollywood, it's the death knell for an actress's career. She was past her time to play an ingenue & she knew it. She quit & devoted herself to Hearst until his death then donated a fortune to children's charities. She also had difficult later years because of alcoholism & cancer but she was not the tragic character, Susan Alexander Kane, portrayed in Citizen Kane. The fictional character was forced by Kane to be an opera singer in spite of no talent. Marion Davies had talent but was neither respected nor appreciated. Ever Since Eve is a minor but successful swan song for her career. The supporting actors perform well especially the very gifted comedienne Patsy Kelly.

Very entertaining romantic comedy starring Marion Davies as Marge, a gal who keeps quitting or getting fired from her secretarial jobs because she's too attractive to keep her bosses from chasing her, asking her to stay for "night work", etc. At the employment agency she hears about a job at a publishing company that only hires "homely" secretaries, so she makes herself over to look plain - complete with thick round eyeglasses, short dark wig, over-sized suit, sensible shoes, and funny-looking hat (de rigueur for this kind of deception, it seems) - and gets herself the job. She's soon put to work as secretary for handsome ladies man Freddy Matthews (played by Robert Montgomery) who is writing a book with a firm due date at the publishers - problem is, he just can't keep his mind on the job. So - he thinks she has a "face that would stop a clock" (hmmm - he met her as herself in an earlier scene and thought she was a beauty, just a pair of glasses makes that much difference?!) so has no interest in her, she takes it upon herself to press him into completing his book and keep him away from distractions like his jealous, extremely hot-headed girlfriend.

Well, this film is a lot of fun - the story is very enjoyable and funny, with well done performances by all. Marion Davies is fun to watch switching back and forth between blonde beauty and plain jane, Robert Montgomery is his handsome, charming, usual self, Patsy Kelly adds some humor to the mix playing Davies wisecracking roommate/gal pal and Frank McHugh is amusing as a man who writes books for young girls under a female pseudonym. The plot of this film has an element that you just must except (like many other similar films with this sort of disguise) - the fact that our man is completely unable to recognize, either visually or by her voice, Davies character when she has on the glasses and wig. He actually meets Marge at one point in the film, dressed as herself, and they go out and begin to fall in love - and he doesn't have a clue that she and his secretary are one and the same person! All in all, I found this film to be a pleasant watch, well worth seeing.