Lady Eve The (1941)

Directed by Preston Sturges the whole cast is terrific and includes (many from Sturges’ other great films): Henry Fonda Barbara Stanwyck Charles Coburn Eugene Pallette William Demarest Eric Blore and Al Bridge (uncredited). The script was Oscar nominated. Added to the National Film Registry in 1994. #55 on AFI’s 100 Funniest Movies list. #26 on AFI’s 100 Greatest Love Stories list.

Fonda is a wealthy naive ophiologist (snake expert) that runs into father & daughter con artists (Coburn and Stanwyck) on a cruise ship while returning from an expedition. However Stanwyck falls for Fonda and tells Coburn to lay off him. Demarest plays a servant protector of Fonda. When Fonda learns what she really is he is disillusioned and breaks his relationship with Stanwyck. Later back in Fonda’s high society world he is surprised to see someone looking very much like Stanwyck (it is her with a new identity) at a party at his home. She’s with Blore another con artist. Fonda tries to figure out who she is and must wrestle with his affections and his trust.

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