Classic Film Guide

Evelyn Prentice (1934) - full review!

Directed by William K. Howard, with a screenplay by Lenore J. Coffee that was based on the novel by W.E. Woodward, this mystery drama is clever enough to hold one's interest until the final act, when the law goes out the window and incredulity reigns. It was actually the third film (ever and) from that year to team William Powell and Myrna Loy, who plays the title role.

Evelyn Prentice (Loy) is the wife of a successful and well known, workaholic defense attorney, John (Powell), who specializes in helping women, like Mrs. Nancy Harrison (Rosalind Russell, who appears briefly as one such woman, in her screen debut), avoid conviction. When Mrs. Harrison insists on showing Prentice gratitude for her acquittal, Evelyn gets the wrong idea, which leads her into a brief if initially innocent situation with a conniving poet named Larry Kennard (Harvey Stephens). Thanks to Evelyn's interfering and visiting friend Amy Drexel (Una Merkel), Prentice gets wind of his wife's discontent and suspicions; he plans a 6 month 'reconciliation' European cruise for he, his wife, and their precocious 7 year old Dorothy (Cora Sue Collins). But Kennard learns of this through the society papers and with Evelyn's letters to him, whose meaning could be misinterpreted, he attempts to blackmail her for $15,000. She sees a gun in his desk drawer and demands her letters. Downstairs, Lennard's jealous girlfriend Judith Wilson (Isabel Jewell) hears a shot ring out, but fails to see Evelyn, holding a handkerchief to her mouth, escaping down the front stairs. Ms. Wilson is accused of killing Kennard. Evelyn, who has a "too be explained" cut on her mouth, insists that they cancel their cruise so that her husband might defend Ms. Wilson.

An unbelievable trial ensues, one without much credibility to begin with that gets even more implausible, breaking all legal procedure and protocol, as it proceeds; Frank Conroy plays District Attorney Farley. Edward Brophy plays a brief, yet memorable role as Prentice's assistant Eddie Delaney; Jessie Ralph plays an even briefer role as Mrs. Blake, a witness to Evelyn's exit who keeps quiet in hopes of some future remuneration. Herman Bing appears uncredited as an antiques dealer named Klein, the scene that makes Brophy's role memorable. Billy Gilbert appears uncredited as a café owner, Samuel Hinds as a party guest.

Remade as Stronger than Desire (1939) with Virginia Bruce, Walter Pidgeon, Lee Bowman, and Ann Dvorak.

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