Not to put too fine a point on it, this is one of the bitchiest films to ever come out of Hollywood. Or, as Joan Crawford says: "there's a name for you ladies, but it isn't used in proper society outside of a kennel." Based on the play by Claire Booth Luce, George Cukor's 1939 classic, which features an all-female cast, says as much about men as it does about the not-so-weaker sex. Norma Shearer stars as the noble Mary Haines, a good woman who, after being thrown over by her husband is offered advice by the yard from her "friends," who make all decisions using two criteria: 1) personal gain, and 2) the gossip factor. Boasting a script by Anita Loos and Jane Murfin that sparkles with both insight and humor and a gem of a publicity tag ("135 women with men on their minds"), The Women boasts a decent transfer, overall (some soft halos, some grain), and a solid Dolby Digital mono soundtrack. Extras include a "behind-the-scenes" text essay; a pair of 10-minute "Romance of Celluloid" featurettes ("Hollywood: Style Center of the World," on MGM fashion, and "From the Ends of the Earth," on imports of lumber, paint, etc., for MGM studios); session music cues; and an alternate b&w version of the color fashion show sequence (the film itself is in b&w). Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—May 20, 2014—Warner, 133 min., not rated, $19.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1939's The Women features a fine transfer and a DTS-HD mono soundtrack. Extras include the featurettes “From the Ends of the Earth” on production and “Hollywood: Style Center of the World” on fashion (21 min.), the 1939 MGM animated short “One Mother's Family” (9 min.), an alternate fashion show sequence (6 min.), “Scoring Session Music Cues” audio tracks, and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a landmark classic film.]
The Women
Warner, 133 min., not rated, DVD: $19.98 Volume 17, Issue 5
The Women
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: