IMDb RATING
7.4/10
5K
YOUR RATING
A gangster tries to make Apple Annie, the Times Square apple seller, a lady for a day.A gangster tries to make Apple Annie, the Times Square apple seller, a lady for a day.A gangster tries to make Apple Annie, the Times Square apple seller, a lady for a day.
- Nominated for 4 Oscars
- 2 wins & 4 nominations total
Ernie Adams
- Reception Guest
- (uncredited)
Irving Bacon
- Pool Hall Dupe
- (uncredited)
Ward Bond
- Mounted Policeman
- (uncredited)
Joe Bordeaux
- Reception Guest
- (uncredited)
Harry C. Bradley
- Lloyd - Hotel Mail Clerk
- (uncredited)
Raymond Brown
- Seated Man in Mayor's Office
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Glenn Ford and Betty Davis in color fall short competing with the BW original version with lesser known but more convincing actors. Lets face facts. Glenn Ford never played a convincing bad guy/bad boy. On the other hand little known Warren William had to convince the viewers that he wasn't a bad guy all the time. Dave the Dude is basically a bad guy with a touch of good. Even his act of kindness to Annie is self serving. This movie is a perfect example that technical advances don't make a better story, lesser known actors can play the role better, and age can define whether any work of art can stand up to the ultimate critic - Time. Different audiences, tastes, standards and means of portraying the play, are the ultimate judge regarding the worth of the production.
Almost 70 years on, this film is as fresh as ever, with brilliant performances, great dialogue, and an irresistible story, even if you don't believe in fairy tales. Watch out for the butler's line, addressing Happy MacGuire, who talks in the not-so-grammatically-correct mob-lingo of the 1930s: "If I had a choice of weapon with you, Sir, I'd choose grammar." Definitely a must see!
Another old film I was excited to discover, and puzzled to not have heard of. I was unsurprised to find its a Frank Capra film, but I think I like this better than his later, more well-known films.
May Robson's performance in this is superb, I was gratified to see she was nominated as Best actress, but sorry she did not win. The other leads are great, and dialog well-written. As some others have noted the scene of the lovers on the patio is beautifully set and filmed.
If you love Frank Capra you'll love this one, and if not, you may find it a somewhat less saccarhine effort than his others....highly recommended!!
May Robson's performance in this is superb, I was gratified to see she was nominated as Best actress, but sorry she did not win. The other leads are great, and dialog well-written. As some others have noted the scene of the lovers on the patio is beautifully set and filmed.
If you love Frank Capra you'll love this one, and if not, you may find it a somewhat less saccarhine effort than his others....highly recommended!!
For a middle class Indian guy like me falling head over heels for Hollywood movies and especially for B/W beauties is like making Ned Sparks laugh.... very difficult!
And yet in love I am with Hollywood for movies like 'The Lady For A Day'.
( What you haven't seen it? Rent it or better BUY it .. Right Now!)
It's pure magic from beginning to end.
Performances are top notch.Warren Williams with his voice n charm, Ned Sparks with his comments and May Robson for her great performance make the film a legend.
Let's not forget Frank Capra. It actually makes you wonder weather it is Capra's direction , the performances or the storyline which sets this film apart.
Capra's brand of comedies is well known. And this one is an out n out success!
Whatever be the ingredients it's poetry in motion. It's a must watch for true fans and it should be made compulsory for the 'Scary Movies Gang'.
And yet in love I am with Hollywood for movies like 'The Lady For A Day'.
( What you haven't seen it? Rent it or better BUY it .. Right Now!)
It's pure magic from beginning to end.
Performances are top notch.Warren Williams with his voice n charm, Ned Sparks with his comments and May Robson for her great performance make the film a legend.
Let's not forget Frank Capra. It actually makes you wonder weather it is Capra's direction , the performances or the storyline which sets this film apart.
Capra's brand of comedies is well known. And this one is an out n out success!
Whatever be the ingredients it's poetry in motion. It's a must watch for true fans and it should be made compulsory for the 'Scary Movies Gang'.
This sublime, charming fairy tale, about an old apple seller (the lovely May Robson) who is helped by a gangster named Dave the Dude (Warren William) and his buddies in order to make her rich and respectable for her returning daughter and in-law from Spain, is conceivably Capra's freshest, most underrated classic, perhaps with the exception of "The Bitter Tea of General Yen", which was also released in 1933. While "Bitter Tea" was a commercial flop, "Lady For a Day" proved to be Capra's first big success with the Depression-era audiences and a sign of things to come. A must-see!
Did you know
- TriviaA number of beggars in downtown Los Angeles were cast in small roles, including the legless man, nicknamed William F. Sauls, whom Frank Capra had remembered as selling pencils when the director was a paperboy.
- GoofsWhile Dave the Dude's gang waits inside Missouri Martin's nightclub, Happy McGuire and Dave stand outside and are informed of the presence of the cops. Behind them on the left side of the double doors, there is a "Closed" sign, but the sign is gone when the interior shot has the two entering the club.
- Quotes
Happy McGuire: That should be a cinch.
Butler: I beg your pardon, Sir.
Happy McGuire: I said that should be a leadpipe cinch!
Butler: If I had choice of weapons with you, Sir, I'd choose grammar!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Frank Capra's American Dream (1997)
- SoundtracksThe Sidewalks of New York
(1894) (uncredited)
Music by Charles Lawlor and James W. Blake
Played during the openng credits
- How long is Lady for a Day?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Lady for a Day
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $300,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 36 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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