The Lady Eve | Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      The Lady Eve

      Released Feb 25, 1941 1 hr. 37 min. Romance Comedy List
      99% 104 Reviews Tomatometer 87% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score It's no accident when wealthy Charles (Henry Fonda) falls for Jean (Barbara Stanwyck). Jean is a con artist with her sights set on Charles' fortune. Matters complicate when Jean starts falling for her mark. When Charles suspects Jean is a gold digger, he dumps her. Jean, fixated on revenge and still pining for the millionaire, devises a plan to get back in Charles' life. With love and payback on her mind, she re-introduces herself to Charles, this time as an aristocrat named Lady Eve Sidwich. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Jan 03 Buy Now

      Where to Watch

      The Lady Eve

      Fandango at Home Prime Video Apple TV

      Rent The Lady Eve on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

      The Lady Eve

      What to Know

      Critics Consensus

      A career highlight for Preston Sturges, The Lady Eve benefits from Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda's sparkling chemistry -- and a script that inspired countless battle-of-the-sexes comedies.

      Read Critics Reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (508) audience reviews
      Kristin R Super lame. How could a man be so stupid? Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/23/23 Full Review Johnathon W Classic romantic comedy thanks to some superb lead performances and fun direction from Preston Sturges. Barbara Stanwyck is brilliant in the title role, conning a befuddled Henry Fonda not once but twice, including one of the sexiest scenes ever filmed (seriously, is it any wonder Fonda falls for her?). Behind the camera, director Preston Sturges delivers a unique romantic comedy that takes some surprising turns, especially since the con gets found out pretty early, only to play into a later one. Best of all, Stanwyck's character clearly drives the story, even when she is technically doing she bad things (she is a con woman after all). All in all, a classic romantic comedy of the highest caliber. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/04/23 Full Review Audience Member "The Lady Eve" is a truly magical experience that reaches sublime heights of delight as a result of its most perfect blend of cornball humor and heartfelt romance. We watch in a state of mounting enchantment as Stanwyck and Fonda joust and parley with one another, initially onboard an ocean liner and then within the gilded cage of a prestigious estate that feels custom made for all manner of screwball hijinks. The multiple masterstrokes achieved here include a bold transition from one mise en scene to another, a conclusion which touchingly brings the story full circle, and numerous hilarious plot developments that this reviewer would never deign to spoil for the first time viewer. Watching "The Lady Eve," we are quickly jolted to an awareness of the wonderfully potent heights to which the screwball genre may ascend, although we're simultaneously left with the somber conviction that so few films are likely to enable us to ever fly so high again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member If you enjoy Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda this movie is just ok. They have been in much better films, that much is certain. Although the Lady Eve is funny and entertaining. It also has some ridiculous moments that are quite frankly a bit overdone. I started to loose momentum with the mistaken identity Scenes and Barbara Stanwyck's awful fake English accent that just didn't seem to fit in. The romance is lighthearted enough to come back to on occasion but as I said before this is not their best performances . Id recommend Henry in "Yours Mine and ours" And Stanwyck in Double Indemnity , Remember the night,A Man of her own and her best role as Mary Carson from the Thorn Birds. Pretty much any other acting Role was much better than this particular piece. But its still a sweet romantic comedy worth the view. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review andres s God how disgusting that must feel that everyone on the cruise ship is interested in you because of your wealth. Damn Stanwyck's so playful and flirty, I love it. She has this air of confidence and charm about her that I find very attractive. The type of woman that can take care of herself. Fonda plays the modest and somewhat shy and clumsy naive rich man which suits him perfectly. The chemistry between the two is attractive to watch. This movie feels kinda cozy. It taking place on a ship and all. The dialogue is very witty, it's quick and sharp. I get the whole charm and humor to this movie but unfortunately I can't relate to it at all. This was made during a different time when things were spoiled and Hollywood was all about glamour. I'm not rich, I do not care about high class society (unless it's being parodied), and I can't relate to con artists. That's the problem with me and a lot of these movies from the 40's and 50's - they're kind of cheesy and lame, especially with some of the sayings that were used back then. I didn't really like the way the characters developed. There's not really any sense to it. Like I don't understand how Charles didn't realize that Jean was cosplaying as Lady Eve. To the point where he falls in love and marries her. It makes him look really dumb and naive. And Jean's ways are really crooked and petty. Like the way she gets revenge by tricking Charles into thinking she's another woman and actually gets him to marry her. This movie really made men look like Neanderthal dumbasses and women as the one's who can get away with anything without any serious repercussions. Can you blame the guy for being pissed off when he finds out that Jean is a con artist and then decides to forget about her? Like the whole premise of the movie is pretty weird and twisted! They're basically glamorizing petty behavior and for women to go out and be charming little gold digging con artists. I liked the actors and the acting, but the themes and morals left a bad taste in my mouth. It just left me kind of confused as to what I just saw. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review matthew d Smart wit with a romantic romp. Preston Sturges' romantic comedy The Lady Eve (1941) appears at first to be a classy crime thriller movie, then devolves into a study of what people want in their ideal spouse. Sturges' writing is so clever with intellight and snappy dialogue. Every line can mean more than one thing as one card shark lady wants to manipulate a millionaire into marrying her. Sturges' direction is fun and light-hearted, so you never feel bad if someone gets ripped off. The Lady Eve is about the lack of morality involved in manipulative crimes as well as the ethics of rich people able to blow money over a card game. It's fast and funny with a sweetly silly romance narrative on top. Barbara Stanwyck steals every second of The Lady Eve as master seductress Jean Harrington. She's effortless whether flirting or fleecing Henry Fonda. Fonda is funny as the dumbest man who ever lived named Charles Pike. His clueless act is a real treat as he's so gullible and easy for Stanwyck to manipulate. Stanwyck is so hilarious and looks divine. Her easy charm and stunning charisma make The Lady Eve a genuine delight to watch. I loved Preston Sturges' Sullivan's Travels because of Veronica Lake and I adored The Lady Eve because of Barbara Stanwyck. Charles Coburn is very sly and funny as Colonel Harrington. His sleight of hand card tricks are really cool to watch. Eugene Pallette is a riot with his deep booming voice and annoyance at Fonda's antics. William Demarest is great as Muggsy with his endless suspicions of Stanwyck. The Lady Eve progresses naturally and quickly with Stuart Gilmore's editing cutting quickly from encounter to encounter to 97 minutes. Victor Milner's cinematography lets you see all the cards on the table with mostly wide shots and playful framing during the medium shots with Eve leaning into the man for affection. Edith Head's costumes are to die for as she crafts a dozen gorgeous gowns for Barbara Stanwyck that look timeless. There's a lot of style and fashion here. Wally Westmore and Bill Nye's make-up makes Stanwyck look dreamy in every scene. In short, I laughed the entire way through The Lady Eve. It has really held up thanks to Barbara Stanwyck's delirious devious performance. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      Movie Clips

      View All videos

      The Lady Eve

      The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Not Over a Sofa! The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Not Over a Sofa! 1:05 The Lady Eve: Official Clip - She Knows His Type The Lady Eve: Official Clip - She Knows His Type 2:17 The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Father Loves to Lose The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Father Loves to Lose 2:41 The Lady Eve: Official Clip - An Ideal Mate The Lady Eve: Official Clip - An Ideal Mate 2:27 The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Positively the Same Dame! The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Positively the Same Dame! 2:22 The Lady Eve: Official Clip - What a Friend! The Lady Eve: Official Clip - What a Friend! 2:39 The Lady Eve: Official Clip - I Like Him, Too The Lady Eve: Official Clip - I Like Him, Too 2:28 The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Who's Emma? The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Who's Emma? 1:36 The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Hello, Hopsie! The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Hello, Hopsie! 2:33 The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Charles Meets The Lady Eve The Lady Eve: Official Clip - Charles Meets The Lady Eve 1:58 View more videos

      Discover

      Best Movies to Stream at Home

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      95% 93% Hundreds of Beavers TRAILER for Hundreds of Beavers 67% 33% The Stranger TRAILER for The Stranger 50% 93% The Stolen Valley TRAILER for The Stolen Valley 93% 95% Dune: Part Two TRAILER for Dune: Part Two 71% 60% Immaculate TRAILER for Immaculate 82% 75% In the Land of Saints and Sinners TRAILER for In the Land of Saints and Sinners 67% 90% Sweet Dreams TRAILER for Sweet Dreams 56% 88% DogMan TRAILER for DogMan % % An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th TRAILER for An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th % 29% Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Movie News & Guides

      View All Movie News & Guides

      This movie is featured in the following articles.

      Know Your Critic: Rolling Stone Senior Editor David Fear R.L. Stine’s Five Favorite Films Jim Broadbent’s Five Favorite Films

      Photos

      View All The Lady Eve photos

      The Lady Eve

      The Lady Eve (1941) The Lady Eve (1941) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (104) Critics Reviews
      Otis Ferguson The New Republic Some of it is slapstick; a little of it is impossible the wrong way; but in general its pleasures come from the characters as found. Dec 29, 2022 Full Review Ida Belle Hicks Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com The Lady Eve cinches Sturges as an important personality in films... It is highly entertaining movie fare -- the kind that keeps the box offices busy. Dec 29, 2022 Full Review Mildred Martin Philadelphia Inquirer [The Lady Eve] is by all odds the best and breeziest thing at which Sturges has turned an impish hand and an equally impish pen. Dec 29, 2022 Full Review George Orwell Time and Tide The dialogue is so good, the direction so light and witty and the whole atmosphere so essentially farcical that one does not bother about improbabilities. Oct 2, 2023 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills There's no space here to extol the individual glories... Jul 31, 2023 Full Review Brian Susbielles InSession Film To go from the realism of Tom Joad to being a klutz in this charmer was remarkable... Mar 7, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis It's no accident when wealthy Charles (Henry Fonda) falls for Jean (Barbara Stanwyck). Jean is a con artist with her sights set on Charles' fortune. Matters complicate when Jean starts falling for her mark. When Charles suspects Jean is a gold digger, he dumps her. Jean, fixated on revenge and still pining for the millionaire, devises a plan to get back in Charles' life. With love and payback on her mind, she re-introduces herself to Charles, this time as an aristocrat named Lady Eve Sidwich.
      Director
      Preston Sturges
      Screenwriter
      Monckton Hoffe, Preston Sturges
      Distributor
      Paramount Pictures, Criterion Collection
      Production Co
      Paramount Pictures
      Genre
      Romance, Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Feb 25, 1941, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Mar 18, 2014
      Sound Mix
      Mono
      Aspect Ratio
      35mm, Flat (1.37:1)
      Most Popular at Home Now