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List Price: $39.95Amazon.com's Price: $35.99 You Save: $3.96 (10%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9781559409148
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
ISBN: 1559409142
Label: Criterion
Manufacturer: Criterion
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Criterion
Region Code: 1
Release Date: October 16, 2001
Running Time: 93 minutes
Sales Rank: 17318
Studio: Criterion
Theatrical Release Date: February 25, 1941
Editorial Review:
Description:
A conniving father and daughter meet up with the heir to a brewery fortune-a wealthy but naïve snake enthusiast-and attempt to bamboozle him at a cruise ship card table. Their plan is quickly abandoned when the daughter falls in love with their prey. But when the heir gets wise to her gold-digging ways, she must plot to re-conquer his heart. One of Sturges' most clever and beloved romantic comedies, The Lady Eve balances broad slapstick and sophisticated sexiness with perfect grace.
Amazon.com essential video:
In 1941, Barbara Stanwyck was offered two screwball roles equally suited to her tart intelligence, deft comic timing, and undeniable sex appeal, and it's a photo finish as to which was funnier--showgirl-on-the-lam Sugarpuss O'Shea, the title character in Howard Hawks's Ball of Fire, or con artist Jean Harrington a.k.a. Lady Eve Sidwich, the delirious fulcrum for this classic Preston Sturges comedy. Under Sturges's typically antic microscope, the collision between the gold-digging Harrington and the very rich, very hapless brewery-heir-turned-herpetologist Charles Pike (a wonderfully callow, guileless Henry Fonda) yields ample opportunity for the writer-director to skewer issues of class and sex; as always, Sturges is bold in pushing the censors' envelope, capturing a palpable erotic heat between the canny Jean and the literally feverish Charlie, who, after a year up the Amazon, is instantly smitten by the mere sight of her shapely ankles (in hindsight, a precursor to her subsequent effect in Double Indemnity). To give away the plot machinations driving the farce would spoil the fun, beyond confirming impersonations, mixed signals, and misunderstandings as the turns in a consistently rollicking ride that makes good use of Charles Coburn and screwball character veterans Eugene Pallette, William Demarest, and Eric Blore. --Sam Sutherland
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A female con-artist.
The Lady Eve is a funny screwball comedy thanks to Barbara Stanwyck (what a firecracker!) she makes this film better than it actually is. Henry Fonda is ok but not memorable like his leading lady. Preston Sturgess directed this classic, I like his sense of humor but a lot of these old films fade with time, sorry to say but this is one of them.
Rating:  - Still Holds Up Today
Preston Sturges did some terrific comedies, mostly in the 40's, & this is definitely one of them. Barbara Stanwyck & Henry Fonda are both great, along with a fine supporting cast including, Charles Coburn, William Demarest & Eugene Pallette. From the opening credits, a cartoon snake squirming down the left side of the names & eventually running through Preston's name, to the last line (which I will refrain from spoiling!)it's fun all the way! This is one comedy that could be redone ... Read More
Rating:  - Barbara Stanwyck - what an actress!
Barbara Stanwyck was an outstanding dramatic actress. In this movie she showed she was also very good at comedy.
Rating: - Boy Meets Girl
The 1930's and 1940's were the hay days of the innocent screwball comedy and the `king of the hill' director of many of them was one Preston Sturgis. The Lady Eve represents one of his better efforts. The plot line is fairly simple- boy meets girl, magic, a little plot twist where things go topsy-turvy, a little emotional reverse twist and in the end boy gets girl, girl gets boy. It is the way that this is done that makes this film above the run of the mill manifestations of this theme. Barbara Stanwyck ... Read More
Rating:  - one half of a great movie
This movie is renowned as Preston Sturges' masterpiece. The first half is certainly excellent. The jokes and innuendo come thick and fast as a man and a woman meet on a cruise ship and begin a complex, sexually charged game of cat and mouse. Barbara Stanwyck is scorchingly sexy as the witty, confident con woman who sees an easy mark in Henry Fonda's nerdy millionare scientist. Fonda is equally good, projecting a shy, awkward air, but gradually we warm to him as he falls in love with the woman who's aiming ... Read More
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