The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937) Underrated! The dialog here is truly witty and hilarious. The play of types is of course old fashioned, and the drooling men chasing Joan Crawford (title character) around. But if you lighten up about any of that, you'll find it truly funny. So for the first half hour you have a model comedy, seemingly made up of British characters but all (but one) played by Americans. Such is Hollywood. What throws the movie into a bit of a tailspin is the big surprise twist that you can sort of smell coming after a stretch. It's a fun and funny idea, but the banter loses some sparkle and the pressure of the plot completely changes gears. Mrs. Cheyney is not longer the pursued (at least not in the same way). William Powell is terrific (he appears as a butler, of all things, one year after "My Man Godfrey") and Frank Morgan and Nigel Bruce are both fun. I was less familiar with the other female players, but they made a large ensemble work well. If you can click with the beginning, you might (like me) be really in stitches. It's that clever. Then if your interest fades a bit, that's okay. It's still an entertaining, farcical movie.

Copyright 15 February 1937 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp. New York opening at the Capitol: 18 February 1937. U.S. release: 19 February 1937. 98 minutes. (Warner Archive has a 10/10 DVD). SYNOPSIS: Although she poses as a prominent socialite, the charming and fashionable Mrs Cheyney (Joan Crawford) is actually a jewel thief who takes advantage of invitations to aristocratic homes, such as that of Lord Kelton (Frank Morgan), to spy out the lay of the land. Her partner, Charles (William Powell), believes he has complete control over Mrs Cheyney, but his dominance is threatened by a young man-about-town (Robert Montgomery) who falls in love with her. NOTES: The last film directed by Richard Boleslawski, who died before the picture was completed. A re-make of the 1929 film directed by Sidney Franklin, starring Norma Shearer, George Barraud and Basil Rathbone. The costumes were designed by Adrian. The stage play opened in London at the St James on 22 September 1925, running a hugely successful 514 performances. Gladys Cooper played Mrs Cheyney, Ronald Squire was Charles, and Gerald du Maurier, Arthur. On Broadway at the Fulton from 9 November 1925, the play chalked up a very successful 283 performances. Ina Claire played Mrs Cheyney, A.E. Matthews was Charles, and Roland Young, Arthur. M-G-M re-made the film in 1951 as The Law and the Lady with Greer Garson as a re-vamped Mrs Cheyney, Michael Wilding as his lordship, and Fernando Lamas, the equivalent of Charles. COMMENT: Joan Crawford gives such a luminous performance in the title role as to put all the other players, except Frank Morgan and Bob Montgomery, firmly in the shade. Mind you, Jessie Ralph can stand up to Joan, but her role of course is a subsidiary one and she has her best scene at the climax when Crawford is mostly off-camera. Morgan has a grand time in a typical role, whilst Montgomery is a revelation in what is basically an unsympathetic part. He even manages to steal scenes from Bill Powell, whose role here is often to act as an astute stooge - which he does with great finesse and charm. We also liked Benita Hume's adulterous wife, while Nigel Bruce grandly enacts his usual character of a blithely aristocratic ass. The picture is entrancingly photographed, stylishly directed and most attractively set.

Well, there is often something in many MGM productions of the mid to late 1930's that really leave me cold. If I expand on that metaphor, The Last of Mrs. Cheyney has me shivering in a deep freeze. Filmed only eight years earlier as a Norma Shearer vehicle, this attempt to resurrect a modestly successful 1920's drama falls flat in a big way.The Last of Mrs. Cheyney plays like a strictly by-the-numbers film, obviously prepackaged and green lighted by complacent MGM executives who seemingly felt that they could combine some of their most likable and charming stars in a glossy remake like this, and the money would come pouring in from devoted fans. Um, wrong.Saddled with an awkward title, unfocused, preposterous, and exceedingly dull, the film wastes the considerable talents of all involved. Arguably a drawing-room comedy, the film has no "intentional" laughs, implausible character motivations, and a romantic triangle that leaves viewers nodding off into their popcorn. Unfortunately for him, director Richard Boleslawski dropped dead sometime during the filming, and the project was finished by two other uncredited directors. I suspect that his futile attempt to make this turkey fly may have contributed to his demise.The plot introduces us to a gang of con artists led by Powell and Crawford, who oh-so-easily infiltrate the highest rungs of wealthy and titled British society. They are intent on stealing the strand of pearls belonging to aristocratic dowager Jessie Ralph during the course of a weekend party at her country estate. Complications arise when love-struck Robert Montgomery's fixation on Joan leads him to ask too many questions.All the players involved try their best to enliven the proceedings with their own particular brand of appeal, and they are certainly photogenic. But their efforts are wasted on a talky and lackluster script that stretches credibility and makes little sense. The endless exchanges of dialog fail to deliver any punch or sparkle, although veteran character actors Jesse Ralph, Frank Morgan, Nigel Bruce and Sara Haden come off better than the leading players.The bottom line may be that this is another one only for "completists" of the stars, and all others shouldn't even take their first look at The Last of Mrs. Cheyney.** out of *****

I do not like Joan Crawford in light comedy fare. I am one of her biggest fans, and I don't miss anything she does, but whenever she's in one of those fast-talking comedies, her voice seems to become forced and unnatural, and her smile looks faked. She is best when she is serious, and especially when slipping one of those little pistols into her handbag -with gloved hand- to eliminate a cheating husband or some other louse. And when she is weeping and involved in something sorrowful or tragic, then she is at her best. She is just so good at getting a raw deal, and then coming back to triumph. This movie was not bad; at least, I got a chance to see Joan in a movie I never knew existed. And she never looked better. It was nice to see how handsome Robert Montgomery used to be. All in all, it was entertaining, especially if you like attractive homes and scenery. It did highlight that the very rich are silly and really don't have much of interest to do other than entertain each other all the time.