Une femme diabolique

OK, so this was a cool movie. It was funny, exciting, and most of all, not sappy.

Sophie Lang was played by Gertrude Michael. This was the biggest role I've seen her in. She had bit parts in movies I've seen such as "Unashamed" (1932), "Night of Terror" (1933), "Ann Vickers" (1933), and "I'm No Angel" (1933). She had a fairly significant part in "Search for Beauty" (1934), "Murder at the Vanities" (1934), and "Murder on the Blackboard" (1934), but she wasn't the main character. "The Notorious Sophie Lang" was a real showcase for her.

Sophie was a master thief. She was so good that no one even knew what she looked like. The movie began with her robbing a jewelry store and slyly getting away. She had been dormant for five years, but she was back in business because she had an ego like most greats.

She'd heard that Maximillian Bernard (Paul Cavanagh), Europe's most acclaimed thief, was in town (New York) and she couldn't be outdone by him. It was a matter of professional pride that she get in contact with him and see which of the two was better.

Trying to catch Sophie was Police Inspector Stone (Arthur Byron). He had an idea of how to catch Sophie when he was apprised that the man claiming to be Nigel Crane was none other than Max Bernard (Cavanagh). Stone would use Max Bernard to catch Sophie Lang.

He intentionally kept hidden the fact he knew Nigel Crane was Max Bernard. Then he played to Bernard's ego by proclaiming that Sophie Lang was a much better and more accomplished thief. He hoped that Max would get to work to disprove such a theory and that he would seek out Sophie Lang. Meanwhile, Stone would have his man Stubbs (Leon Errol) tailing him to catch both thieves.

It was nothing but fun and a wee bit of romance from then on. As an added treat, Alison Skipworth was in the picture playing Aunt Nellie, Sophie Lang's aunt and right hand woman. I did enjoy this movie. I'd seen several other cat burglar movies from that era such as "Arsene Lupin," "Raffles," "Jewel Robbery" and a few others. It was cool to see a female cat burglar; and one who didn't fail because she fell in love.

Free on Odnoklassniki.

In her eighteenth film in only two years,Gertrude Michael, having recently signed a long term contract with Paramount Pictures, was handed an assignment turned down by Carole Lombard, that of a lady jewel thief. Blonde, intelligent,sophisticated and edgy, Michael suited the role to a tee. Her performance opened her career to leads and costarring roles through the rest of the 1930s. The Catholic Church condemned this film for it glamorization of an amoral criminal. The audiences loved her easy chemistry with leading man Paul Cavanaugh, the scene-stealing Alison Skipworth,and the comic antics of Leon Errol. The film generated a series of two additional films which due to the puritannically revised code forced Sophie Lang to evolve into a rehabilitated criminal fighting evil. Still they were all good fun as Sophie Lang constantly appeared in different disguises and led the cops and the crooks on a merry chase. Several years ago this film was show in a 1930s Bad Girl retrospect at San Francisco's Roxie Cinema.Also on that program were Tala Birell in "She's Dangerous" and Claire Trevor in "Big Town Girl".

Glamorous American jewel-thief Sophie Lang returns to the U. S. after lying low in England for five years. New York police inspector Stone is determined to trap the elusive Lang by enlisting the unknowing aid of Max Bernard, a suave European stone-stealer, traveling in America under the pseudonym of Sir Nigel Crane. Max and Sophie chase each other around, evade their pursuers, and of course fall in love. Along for the hunt are Leon Errol as a bumbling health-obsessed detective and Alison Skipworth as Sophie's crafty accomplice. Lots of laughs to be found, including Gertrude Michael's impersonation of a haughty Russian countess which comes out ala Garbo and a great line by Inspector Stone, "Never teach your grandmother to suck eggs." The film proved to be popular enough with audiences to spawn two sequels, The Return of Sophie Lang (1936) and Sophie Lang Goes West (1937). Critics were fond of the caper as well. The New York Times called it "…witty and exuberant entertainment performed with light-hearted gaiety by an excellent cast." Variety stated "Ralph Murphy directed the picture with a rat-tat-tat pace, not allowing it to stop for a minute."

Thanks to TCM for running this mini classic, so popular, there had to be a sequel. Much owed to "tough cookie" Gertrude Michael who latched onto the title role and ran away with it.

Originally offered to Carole Lombard, who refused, a big mistake. Known to be very selective with her roles, Lombard complained about her recent casting in the cult chiller, SUPERNATURAL, leading to this offbeat film and similar concerns. Michael wins out.

She plays a beautiful, smart as a whip jewel thief, returning to the US after a stay in Europe. Object -- more robberies. Stumped police inspector Arthur Byron has a plan to catch Sophie once and for all.

On the sly, he arranges to set her up with Max (dashing Paul Cavanagh), yes, another thief to box her in.

Will it all work when they hopelessly fall in love? A must see for the fine performance of Gertrude Michael, an actress of many talents, originally an accomplished pianist. Perfectly cast opposite comedian Alison Skipworth, playing her sly Aunt Nellie, a character which may have lead to a similar role (with Bette Davis) in SATAN MET A LADY, re-working of the MALTESE FALCON. Look for comedian Leon Errol (a gem) and Del Henderson, often cast in Laurel and Hardy comedies.

Written with a wink and a nod by Anthony "Tony" Veiller, who would go onto write WINTERSET, 7 KEYS TO BALDPLATE, later THE KILLERS (1946).

Remastered on dvd, single film or with sequels. Worth adding to your collection of classic oldies.

According to IMDB, Carole Lombard was originally slated to star in this film. However, she must have hated the script and refused to make it. In hindsight, I think she should have done the film....and it would have been quite the success. Instead, Gertrude Michael plays the title character...and her performance is okay....just okay.

When the story begins, you learn that Sophie Lang is a genius thief who has gotten away with many high profile robberies...and the police haven't a clue as to who she is. As you'd expect, she pulls off another clever heist...and like most police in 1930s-40s B-movies, they are helpless fools.

The story takes a bit of a detour when you learn that another infamous international thief, Maximillian Bernard, is also in the country. But his motives are odd...he wants to catch Lang himself and show himself to be the better thief. Can Sophie manage to evade or persuade Max to be on her side? And, can the idiot police manage to crack the case?

The story is all tongue-in-cheek...a comedy in which you are supposed to root for the baddies. It's easier to do so by the time the film ends and the script is quite clever and fun. My only quibble is that I think Ms. Michael's performance was a bit over the top and her accents a bit strange. Had Lombard made the film instead, I am pretty sure I would have enjoyed it even more.