Directed by Preston Sturges, THE LADY EVE stars Barbara Stanwyck as Jean Herrington, a sly con artist aboard a transatlantic ocean liner who happens to run across Charles Pike (Henry Fonda), a snake expert returning from a year in the Amazon jungle. Since Pike is the wealthy and shy heir to a beer fortune, he seems like the perfect target for one of Jean's cons, but as she deceives him she finds herself falling in love. One of Sturges's most hilarious comedies, THE LADY EVE is a romantic comedy masterpiece with two of Hollywood's stars at the top of their form.
Theatrical release: February 1941.
THE LADY EVE is number 55 on the American Film Institute's list of America's 100 Funniest Movies.
THE LADY EVE was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1994.
THE LADY EVE was named to the National Board of Review's List of the 10 Best Films of 1941.
The film was remade by Norman Taurog in 1956 as THE BIRDS AND THE BEES, starring Mitzi Gaynor, David Niven, George Gobel, Reginald Gardiner, and Hans Conreid.
Excerpt: "What I am trying to say is: I'm not a poet, I'm an ophiologist."--Charles Pike (Henry Fonda)
"I need him like the ax needs the turkey."--Jean Harrington (Barbara Stanwyck)
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Single Side - Dual Layer - RSDL
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital Mono - English
Additional Release Material:
Additional Audio Material: LUX RADIO THEATER ADAPTATION
Audio Commentary: Marian Keene - Film Scholar
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Introduction: Peter Bogdanovich - Director
Text/Photo Galleries:
Concept Art:
1. EDITH HEAD COSTUME DESIGNS
Production Stills
Publicity
Art Director
Hans Dreier: Production Designer
Director of Photography
Victor Milner: American Director Of Photography
Art Director
Ernst Fegte: Production Designer
Review 1:
"...THE LADY EVE contains both sophisticated humor and all-out slapstick....Fonda's performance is first-rate..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.F13 04/15/1999
Review 2:
"Sturges' superb screwball comedy combines humour and eroticism..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.85 07/01/2005
Review 3:
"...[Stanwyck gives] one of her greatest performances, a flight of romance and comedy so graceful and effortless that she is somehow able to play different notes at the same time..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.9 11/23/1997
Review 4:
"The pairing of Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck works beautifully."
Source: Uncut
p.146 06/01/2005