Mary, a writer working on a novel about a love triangle, is attracted to her publisher. Her suitor Jimmy is determined to break them up; he introduces Mary to the publisher's wife without telling Mary who she is.
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When hearing of 'When Ladies Meet', it is hard not to feel excited and have good expectations for it. There are many talented people involved here, and with a cast featuring Joan Crawford, Greer Garson, Robert Taylor, Herbert Marshall and Spring Byington and seeing them in the same film who can't resist. Also have a love for films of the classic/golden era of Hollywood.Seeing 'When Ladies Meet', it is definitely an above average and very watchable film. It also could have been better and was a little disappointing considering how good on paper the cast were and how interesting the concept was. Haven't seen the earlier 'When Ladies Meet' for a while, but do remember it being a better film with a superior cast and a much sharper and meatier script. Here's to hoping that that remains the same re-watching it, generally re-watches tend to be pretty much the same opinions wise, there are instances where a film is better on re-watch or one where it is hard to figure out what made me like it in the first place but not an awful lot.A lot of great things. 'When Ladies Meet' was clearly made with elegance and polish, it looks very handsome in the costumes and sets and the film's beautifully shot. It's scored in a way that doesn't intrude yet makes its presence known when needed. The second half is better than the first, with the pacing tighter, the interaction sparkling more and the script more thought-provoking and sharper. The direction feels more assured too. Greer Garson steals the show in 'When Ladies Meet', her natural charm truly shines and she and Joan Crawford, also very good, work very well together towards the end. Robert Taylor looks relaxed and confident, which to me has not always been the case and Spring Byington is delightfully funny in ditzy mode. Unfortunately, Herbert Marshall, in a boorish role with underwritten dialogue and in no way suitable for a love interest (as you don't understand what can be seen in him), looks like he didn't want to be there and takes it too seriously without the light touch that the others had.Also found the first half a bit lacking, with too much of a staid and taking-a-little-too-long-to-get-going approach to the storytelling, which wasn't as fresh or as interesting. The script is much sharper later and can be too lightweight and coarse in the early stages and not saying an awful lot illuminating. The direction didn't feel as natural as it did later, competent certainly but could have done with more spark. In conclusion, decent and above average but was expecting more. 6/10 Bethany Cox
. . . (that would be A WOMAN'S FACE), this movie has the novelty of being the only pairing between the old face of MGM--Crawford--and the Roaring Lion's new visage, the future Mrs. Miniver herself, Greer Garson. Crawford's tyrannical ways had worn out her welcome at Tara, and Garson was several years away from ruining her own Reign on the Mane by wedding "Mrs. Miniver's" son in Hollywood's version of reality. However, when Joan and Greer's characters finally get to have their wildly-anticipated heart-to-heart toward the end of WHEN LADIES MEET, there is no talk of wire hangers or virtual incest. Instead, they have a highly contrived conversation about a "hypothetical" love triangle that the viewers already know is Hyper-Actual. Herbert Marshall's performance as the man in their middle is so smarmy that it's hard to imagine the women in a theater audience NOT loudly hissing collectively whenever he's on-screen. On the other hand, Robert Taylor as a thinner, wise-cracking good guy with a mustache is so similar to William Powell or Don Ameche's usual performances, it's surprising that those three were not born triplets in real life.
Hey, I like both versions of this film. Not into parsing them either. The assembled talent, story, parts, clothes, set. This is the kind of movie I like to watch multiple times. First, watch the movie through. Then, maybe follow separate characters through. There's a lot going on simultaneously. Then, watch the clothes. Then, check out the house, furniture, etc. There was so much style put into these. All of these elements are what made these 30's and 40's films so special. I don't understand why all the comparisons and nitpicking.In both versions, the lady of the country house is something of a wonder - Spring Byington here. I like the Jimmy part a lot, and thought both actors did him well. He's the kind of guy who makes a wonderful friend, though he could get on your nerves at times. He's a young man who will settle down and make a good husband, reliable and good company along the way. Woodruff was an older man who hadn't settled down, self-centered, made a bad husband and rather a dullard actually.I think the sorting out between the women worked for both of them. The wife shook off the dead weight or drew her line anyway; the "girl friend" woke up from her naive daydream. We hope the husband woke up as well. Looks like Jimmy has a chance to come out on top as well! What's there to be so cynical about?
When Ladies Meet was the second version of Rachel Crothers play that was on Broadway in the early Thirties. And of course by the title you can tell it's one of those 'women's' pictures. The type of women who lead lives very much different than most women in Depression Era America. Taking over the roles in the first film version played by Ann Harding and Myrna Loy are Joan Crawford and Greer Garson. Crawford's a novelist who's being given the full courtship by her publisher Herbert Marshall. This is an old game for Marshall who keeps two timing his wife Greer Garson who's perennially taking him back.But we've got a fourth in the mix here in the person of playboy Robert Taylor. Taylor's taking over for Robert Montgomery and while he doesn't quite have Montgomery's light touch for drawing room comedy, still puts over his part with aplomb.Still this film is a battle for the women and I'd have to declare it a draw. Crawford too is a bit out of her league, she's going for a part that her rival Norma Shearer would have played let alone Ann Harding in the first version. But Garson is very well cast as the ever forgiving wife.And Herbert Marshall? I can't think of a more dignified philanderer ever in screen history. He plays it as noble and as righteous as Horace Giddens in The Little Foxes where he was a wronged party.This version of When Ladies Meet is not a bad one and two of the stars are showing a bit of range in not playing parts they normally would be in.
