When Ladies Meet (1941 film)
| When Ladies Meet | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Z. Leonard |
| Written by | S.K. Lauren Anita Loos Leon Gordon (playwright) John Meehan (screenwriter) |
| Based on | When Ladies Meet 1932 play by Rachel Crothers |
| Produced by | Robert Z. Leonard Orville O. Dull |
| Starring | Joan Crawford Robert Taylor Greer Garson Herbert Marshall |
| Cinematography | Robert H. Planck |
| Edited by | Robert Kern |
| Music by | Bronislau Kaper |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $640,000[1] |
| Box office | $1,846,000[1] |
When Ladies Meet (television broadcast title: Strange Skirts) is a 1941 American romantic comedy film by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor, Greer Garson, Herbert Marshall, and Spring Byington in a story about a novelist in love with her publisher. The screenplay by S.K. Lauren and Anita Loos was based upon a 1932 play by Rachel Crothers. The film was directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who also co-produced the film (with Orville O. Dull). The film was a remake of the 1933 pre-Code film of the same name, which starred Ann Harding, Myrna Loy, Robert Montgomery, and Frank Morgan in the roles played by Garson, Crawford, Taylor and Marshall.
Synopsis
Mary Howard (Joan Crawford) is a novelist with advanced ideas about love and marriage, and is in love with her publisher, Rogers Woodruff (Herbert Marshall). She decides the only logical thing to do is to lure him away from his wife and marry him. Mary's friend, Jimmy (Robert Taylor), however, is convinced he's the right man for her and pursues her. He sees through her rationalizations and wrong-thinking and decides to throw Mary and Woodruff's wife Claire (Greer Garson) together at the house of a friend (Spring Byington). The two women do not know each other, but during their chats Mary appreciates and respects Claire's maturity and wisdom. When Mary learns Woodruff is a philandering womanizer of long standing, she realizes she cannot love him and welcomes Jimmy's attentions.
Cast
- Joan Crawford as Mary 'Minnie' Howard
- Robert Taylor as Jimmy Lee
- Greer Garson as Mrs. Claire Woodruff
- Herbert Marshall as Rogers Woodruff
- Spring Byington as Bridget 'Bridgie' Drake
- Rafael Storm as Walter Del Canto
- Mona Barrie as Mabel Guiness
- Max Willenz as Pierre, Bridget's Summer House Handyman
- Florence Shirley as Janet Hopper
- Leslie Francis as Homer Hopper
Reception
Howard Barnes of the New York Herald Tribune wrote, "Even when [Crawford] is wearing spectacles, she is not particularly convincing in the part."[2]
Box office
According to MGM records the film earned $1,162,000 in the US and Canada and $684,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $607,000.[1]
Awards and nominations
The film earned an Academy Award nomination for art directors Cedric Gibbons, Randall Duell and Edwin B. Willis.[3]
DVD release
When Ladies Meet was released on Region 1 DVD on March 23, 2009 from the online Warner Bros. Archive Collection.