First Lady

Didn't realize "First Lady" was an adaptation of a play by the famed George S Kaufman; otherwise, I wouldn't have been surprised at how sharp, witty, and sophisticated the dialogue was. Kay Francis, Verree Teasdale, and Walter Connolly were born to play their roles in this highly enjoyable but largely unknown comic delight.

A very dated but still amusing political comedy, "First Lady" showcases Kay Francis's great comedic talent as the wife of a secretary of state destined, in her view, for the White House once presided over by her grandpa. The screen text as the film begins to roll alerts viewers to the "fact" that men control politics but behind the scenes the ladies are not without influence. Dated! But funny!

A comedy of machinations and quick-witted dialogue, "First Lady" is a period piece and it's fun to see how the filmmakers of the late 30s fantasized a Washington that never was. This must have been a nice distraction as America inched out of the Depression and moved closer to global war. It's good entertainment today.

If you can tell yourself that you are seated in a Broadway theatre enjoying the first night of a George S Kaufman play, you will be delighted. The dialogue is wonderful especially if you like it a little bitchy and the actors put it over beautifully. Kay Francis is marvelous as usual but much credit goes to Verree Teasdale as Irene, Ms Francis' more than capable foil. By the way there are a couple of delightful scenes sans Ms. Francis especially one in which Ms Teasdale and Walter Connolly are "enjoying" an evening at home. Of course the political plot is rather ridiculous and should be ignored except as it moves the story along setting up the witty verbal contretemps. If you just like to "watch" movies, avoid this one. But if you love language and wit you won't be disappointed. And if I were trying to find a play for a community theatre, this sleeper would suit me fine.

Before the Web, before TV, before mass media, evidently Presidents were chosen at Washington cocktail parties and in smoke-filled rooms, judging from this talky but amusing filming of a hit George S. Kaufman stage comedy. The behind-the-scenes machinations are, as noted elsewhere, dated, but the Washington types--ambitious wives, stuffy old coots, self-important self-proclaimed representatives of the "women of America," newspaper barons--are still around, and you may be reminded of Cindy McCain or Rupert Murdoch when you view Verree Teasdale and Grant Mitchell. Teasdale really makes the movie, as the dissatisfied spouse of a preternaturally stupid Supreme Court justice (Walter Connolly, wonderful); her bitch-dialog scenes with Kay Francis have the tang of Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford in "The Women." Credit what must have been some original Kaufman stage dialog lovingly preserved by the filmmakers, who add little cinematically. Francis hasn't quite the natural bitchiness her character requires, and Preston Foster is a dullard of a Secretary of State, but the supporting cast is a pip--there's one exchange between Victor Jory and Anita Louise about corn stalks, of all things, that justifies the whole movie. It starts a bit slowly, and it's stagy, but it's very entertaining.

"First Lady" released in 1937, is a somewhat silly tale of Washington wives. The story has flaws, but Kay Francis and Veree Teasdale give solid performances as two arch enemies. Teasdale wants to divorce her stuffy older husband (Walter Connolly) who is a Supreme Court Justice. Then some high minded folks want to put Connolly up for President. Just why they want to do this is never fully explained - Connolly looks about as presidential as a toad. But, Teasdale relishes the thought of being first lady, so naturally divorce is now out of the question. Well, the sparks fly as a horrified Kay Francis loathes the thought of her enemy (Teasdale) potentially being first lady. The catty dialogue flies between the two women, and this is where they both shine as actresses. Francis herself wants to be first lady too, and wants her husband (Preston Foster in a thankless role) who is the current Secretary of State, to run also. Some of this is unrealistic - since when do Supreme Court Justices and Secretaries of State run for President anyway? Anyway, the film is certainly dated by today's standard of political movies, but see it for Kay Francis alone - Francis was one of Warner Brothers finest actresses from the Golden age of Hollywood.