BlazeLime Strong and Moving!

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Melanie Bouvet The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Married Baby Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

gridoon2018 "When Ladies Meet" is one of those films that show how much the Production Code set the film industry back. In this particular case, it's not the risqué lines that are notable (although there are a few, like "Doesn't anybody here know what beds are for? Or DO you? Or is that the wrong thing to say?"), or the revealing clothes the ladies wear (just a backless dress for Myrna Loy at the start); it's the themes of fidelity, (self-)deception, love and marriage which the film examines in an open and frank way that the Code would soon render beyond reach. And it examines them from the point of view of each character. It's hard to decide who gives the best performance in the excellent cast - Ann Harding is enticing, but I might have to go with Alice Brady, who often steals the show as the "intelligent fool". Yes, there may be "too much talk" in this film, but nearly all of it is intelligent and insightful. The long conversation between Loy and Harding, in the middle of the night, is unlike anything I personally have seen so far in old Hollywood - not a dialogue scene meant to advance the plot or lead to a dramatic confrontation, just a calm, honest talk between two women who reveal their thoughts and feelings. A great - and too-little-known - movie. ***1/2 out of 4.

reader4 Why is it that, these days, the term "sophisticated comedy" is synonymous with "something that isn't at all funny?" Back in the seventies, Norman Lear made TV sitcoms more "sophisticated" by making them "socially relevant." This became all the rage. As a result, there hasn't been a genuinely funny American sitcom since Green Acres. Thank goodness for the BBC, with such gems as "Keeping Up Appearances." "When Ladies Meet" goes even beyond these doldrums, however. I can't see why it's classified as a comedy at all. While it's not a tragedy in the Greek sense, where everyone is dead by the end, it certainly deserves to be classed as a drama rather than a comedy. Sure, there are some funny lines, mostly provided by Luis Alberni and Alice Brady, but they are much more like comedy relief than any kind of main flow of the story. I wouldn't even say there was much of a happy ending, although the finish is ambiguous enough that one can easily be imagined, a very trite one, at that.Myrna Loy monopolizes the show, and handles this meaty role quite capably, although I much prefer her in comedy roles, particularly as the unparalleled Nora Charles in the "Thin Man" series (which are genuine "sophisticated comedies" by the pre-1971 meaning of the term).Frank Morgan plays his brother Ralph, staid and serious. In fact, I had to look back at the credits more than once to make sure it was indeed Frank and not Ralph. There is nothing in his performance of the bubbly, bumbling, endearing character that he has played in so many other movies, notably "The Affairs of Cellini," and, of course, "The Wizard of Oz." Robert Montgomery plays a conservative, stuffy "Family Values" type, once again quite out of character for the sprightly devil-may-care youthful adventurer that he has played so often in film. In fact, I found his stodginess to be quite at odds with his young age, and rather unbelievable. He plays a typical hypocrite who sees nothing the least bit wrong with men having multiple extra-marital affairs, but feels it is absolute anathema for a woman to even contemplate doing so. His character is abrasive and unpleasant throughout. He is thoroughly detestable.The story is perhaps sophisticated for its time, but is barely so today. While these issues must still exist in our modern world, it is hard for me to believe that they would be handled with the same Biblical, Victorian attitudes that calcify the plot and especially the dialog in this movie. At least, one would hope not.An interesting story, well developed, well acted, with almost no surprises. And definitely not a comedy, by the definition "something that will make you laugh."

bkoganbing This first film version of the Rachel Crothers play finds Robert Montgomery as the irrepressible playboy who will do just about anything to win Myrna Loy back from the clutches of married publisher Frank Morgan. Even if that means bringing Morgan's wife Ann Harding into the picture. And When Ladies Meet, watch out. A later version was done by MGM but with more of an emphasis on the mistress than the wife. Joan Crawford had Myrna Loy's role and Ann Harding's part was done by Greer Garson. Robert Taylor played Montgomery's role and the difference between the two films is the quality of their performances. Taylor had developed a real gift for light comedy, but for Robert Montgomery this kind of part was what made his reputation. Frank Morgan was far better than Herbert Marshall because he played the role as the two timing rat he was. You watch Marshall's performance and you'd think he was the wronged party. As for Morgan, no one loved him more than I in the role of the inept bumbler he usually played, but parts like in When Ladies Meet and also in Hallelujah, I'm a Bum do show him to good advantage in other kinds of roles. It's hard to choose between Garson and Harding though. Both of them have the best part in the film and both make equally good use of it. Each are the best in their respective casts.Eliminated from the second version is a great deadpan performance by Sterling Holloway as the allergy prone golf caddy who destroys Montgomery's game as he's playing with Harding.The original play ran on Broadway for 191 performances in the 1932-1933 season and starred Walter Abel, Frieda Inescourt, Herbert Rawlinson and Selena Royle. Ironically all of these folks had substantial film careers, but could never be classified as any kind of box office. When Ladies Meet is witty and bright and a great example of the sophisticated type comedy that's just not being done any more.

Kalaman I had a blast watching this sparkling and affable MGM classic - the first and best adaptation of Crothers' luridly sophisticated play, beautifully shot in black and white with some stylish Cedric Gibbons art direction. Elegant and effervescent, this pre-Code film is a triumph of casting: Myrna Loy, Ann Harding, Robert Montgomery, Alice Brady, and Frank Morgan all in top form. Loy is surprisingly enjoyable as the lady novelist Mary who is deeply in love with the publisher Rodge (Morgan). I agree Ann Harding steals the show; she never looked beautiful and radiant as the wife of the publisher. Alice Brady is a revelation as the whimsical society matron Bridget. The film sometimes feels too gabby but it is aided by the stars' charisma and a tremendously witty dialogue.