The Lady Eve (1941)

My Review

“The Lady Eve” is a screwball comedy where Barbara Stanwyck and Charles Coburn play a father-daughter con artist team on an ocean cruise out to fleece a millionaire portrayed by Henry Fonda. Complications arise when Barb and Hank fall in love, at different times. Director-screenwriter Preston Sturges (“Christmas in July” 1940) put together a superior comedy which holds the audience’s attention for the entire 94 minute running time. Monckton Hoffe originated the story, receiving the only Oscar nod for Best Original Story.

Often considered to be one of the best films of all time, it features Henry Fonda, Barbara Stanwyck, Charles Coburn, Eugene Pallette, William Demarest, Eric Blore, Melville Cooper, Martha O’Driscoll, Janet Beecher, and Luis Albertini as Fonda’s chef. It was a big hit at the box office for Paramount Pictures.