Bataille de dames

William Randolph Hearst preferred to see mistress Marion Davies in magnolia-scented romances, but comedy was her forte, and she gets a nice chance to show off in this screwball romance, her last movie. She's a capable secretary who's sick of being pawed by her bosses and disguises herself as a frump. The trouble is that even a brunette-wig Marion with unbecoming glasses isn't THAT hideous, and the plot machinations stemming from her deception thus seem a little under-motivated. Further, it's something of a B supporting cast--what's Louise Fazenda doing in a role with Edna May Oliver written all over it, and why isn't Gail Patrick playing Marion's nemesis instead of this nobody? Bob Montgomery is just fine playing the light-leading-man sort of role he did dozens of times, and Patsy Kelly and Allen Jenkins are very reliable in this sort of thing. It doesn't sparkle, but as others have noted, it makes its serious points about women in the workplace who aren't appreciated for their talents, and Marion looks like she's having fun getting to be something other than a boring beauty.

Had always heard how rotten this film was. Imagine my surprise when I finally saw it and found it one of the most enjoyable of the Warner's 30's comedies. Marion is a delight, totally natural . . . which is why I guess, they never thought she could act! The film has a great supporting cast. Louise Fazenda has a hilarious role as Abigail Beldon the book publisher, and Merle Oberon look alike, Marcia Ralston makes a vicious "other woman". The whole thing is fun. Take it for what it is . . . just entertainment.

Oh yes, plot is Marion makes herself over to be plain and ugly to get a job and falls for Robert Mongomery, her employer.

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.

What a gem of a movie! Sure, some of the circumstances are preposterous, even for 1937, but the pace is fast, the characters are fun and the building tension as the main character tries to juggle being both Marge Winton and "Sadie Day" is as much fun as the climax of "Mrs. Doubtfire" in the restaurant when Robin Williams just continually change between characters. I'm stunned this has never been remade (or perhaps it has?).

Marion Davies is a delight, every bit as fun as Carole Lombard. I've never seen her in a movie, and always heard she was a mediocre actress. But she's actually quite good, perfect for this role.

On the one hand, this is an incredibly dated movie. On the other hand - is it? Sexual harassment is certainly still a problem in the workplace, though how a woman looks is no protection against it or invitation for it, as this movie implies. But the scene where Marion Davies, in frumpy disguise, isn't helped as she enters a hotel and doesn't get a very nice reception from the front desk clerk, but beautiful "Sadie Day" gets helped and warmly welcomed - has anything really changed from then until now?

It was also startling, and refreshing, to see black British actor Frederick Clarke as the urbane butler, though I held my breath when a character was furious with him started to insult him with a word that started with "n" - and sighed with relief that the word turned out to be "nincompoop."