Barbara Stanwyck in The Lady Eve (1941)

The Lady Eve (1941) remains both one of Barbara Stanwyck and director-writer Preston Sturges's best known movies. Upon its release on February 25 1941 it proved to be a hit at the box office and also received a good deal of critical acclaim. It has since become regarded as a classic.

The Lady Eve centred on con artist Jean Harrington (played by Barbara Stanwyck) and her father "Colonel" Harrington (played by Charles Coburn). Their latest mark is shy ophidiologist Charles Poncefort Pike (played by Henry Fonda), who also happens to be the heir to the Pike Ale fortune. Unfortunately the daughter and father team of con artists, their plans go awry when Jean finds herself falling for Charles.

The Lady Eve was loosely based upon the story "Two Bad Hats" by Monckton Hoffe. Preston Struges almost completely reworked the story to the point that it very nearly seems like one of his originals. From the beginning Mr. Sturges wanted Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, and Charles Coburn in the lead roles. Paramount disagreed with him, and instead the studio considered a number of different actors for the leads. Both Brian Aherne and Joel McCrea were considered for the role of Charles Poncefort Pike. Madeleine Carroll and Paulette Goddard were considered for the role of Jean Harrington. Preston Sturges refused to budge with regards to the cast he wanted, so that in the end Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, and Charles Coburn were cast as the leads. Fresh from his success with The Great McGinty (1940), Paramount found it difficult to resist Mr. Sturges.

Indeed, for The Lady Eve Paramount gave Mr. Sturges his biggest budget for a movie to date. Much of that money went towards hiring Edith Head, who designed twenty five different gowns for Barbara Stanwyck. The budget was reflected in the film's sets as well.

It might come as a surprise to some, given how risqué the film is at times, that The Lady Eve had few problems with the Hays Office. The Hays Office rejected the initial script for The Lady Eve, pointing out various things they found objectionable. It appears that Preston Sturges only followed about half of their suggestions, leaving in a good deal of what they found objectionable. Regardless, the Hays Office approved the revised script.

While Barbara Stanwyck had appeared in comedies before (such as 1936's The Bride Walks Out) , the films Remember the Night (1940--it was written, but not directed by Preston Sturges) and The Lady Eve would mark a bit of a shift in her career. In the Thirties she was best known for dramas such as A Lost Lady (1934) and Stella Dallas (1937).  While Barbara Stanwyck would continue to appear in dramas in the Forties, some of her best known films from the decade would be comedies. Indeed, in addition to other comedies she made in the Forties, Ball of Fire (1941) and Christmas in Connecticut (1945) remain two of her best known films from the Forties. Miss Stanwyck may be best remembered for various dramatic roles in the Thirties, in the Forties she may be best remembered for her comedy roles.

The Lady Eve remains one of Barbara Stanwyck's best remembered films, and with good reason. It is one of Preston Sturges's sexiest, wittiest, funniest films ever made, and Miss Stanwyck shines in the role of Jean. While many might remember her best as Lily Powers in Baby Face (1933) or Stella Dallas in the movie of the same name, there are probably many others who probably remember her best as Jean in The Lady Eve.