As you know, I am currently keen on Barbara Stanwyck movies. Ever since I saw The Lady Eve, I have been going through her films weekly. I must have watched The Lady Eve several times already, and almost daily do I put the DVD in the player to watch a few minutes. But, there are so many classic scenes in the movie that I lose myself in it and end up watching it fully. I just dig her in it.
My favorite scene happens half way through the movie as Jean starts her ploy to ensnare Hopsie in her revenge. She poses as the Lady Eve Sidwich at a party given by Hopsie's father in her honor. There she meets Hopsie face-to-face.
She casually and non-chalantly greets him as if they had never met.
Hopsie was incredulous and caught tongue tied. He couldn't believe this English Lady was the same grifter he had met on the boat.
He asks, "Have we met?"
"Of course we have, your father just introduced us."
And it goes downhill quick for Hopsie from there.
Stanwyck plays it marvelously. Her face as she lies to him does not betray one hint of recognition. She is daring him to call her bluff. He doesn't, and she subtly mocks him for it.
It's enough to make Hopsie fall over himself.
The scene ends with a Hopsie's father's toast to the Lady Eve over her wily ways.
"Well, I don't know what she looked like, but if she looked anything like you, here's to her."
She looked just like her, because it was her. She and her being the same person. It's a brilliant line that gets to the theme of the movie.
If you haven't seen it, I recommend that you do. It's on the American Film Institute's list of 100 comedies. Put it in your Netflix queue.
My favorite scene happens half way through the movie as Jean starts her ploy to ensnare Hopsie in her revenge. She poses as the Lady Eve Sidwich at a party given by Hopsie's father in her honor. There she meets Hopsie face-to-face.
She casually and non-chalantly greets him as if they had never met.
Hopsie was incredulous and caught tongue tied. He couldn't believe this English Lady was the same grifter he had met on the boat.
He asks, "Have we met?"
"Of course we have, your father just introduced us."
And it goes downhill quick for Hopsie from there.
Stanwyck plays it marvelously. Her face as she lies to him does not betray one hint of recognition. She is daring him to call her bluff. He doesn't, and she subtly mocks him for it.
It's enough to make Hopsie fall over himself.
The scene ends with a Hopsie's father's toast to the Lady Eve over her wily ways.
"Well, I don't know what she looked like, but if she looked anything like you, here's to her."
She looked just like her, because it was her. She and her being the same person. It's a brilliant line that gets to the theme of the movie.
If you haven't seen it, I recommend that you do. It's on the American Film Institute's list of 100 comedies. Put it in your Netflix queue.
Labels: Barbara Stanwyck, movies, The Lady Eve