THE LAST  OF MRS CHEYNEY

US, 1937, 98 minutes. Black and white.
Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, William Powell, Nigel Bruce, Jessie Ralph, Frank Morgan, Benita Hume, Melville Cooper.
Directed by Richard Boleslawski.

The Last Mrs Cheney is based on a play by Frederick Lonsdale, a drawing-room piece – opened out for the screen. It has a British background – with American stars at the forefront.

The film is a Joan Crawford vehicle, for her when she was a big star at MGM in the 1930s. Robert Montgomery had been a solid star at MGM during this decade – and this year featured in Night Must Fall. William Powell, who had starred with Myrna Loy in many films at this time, especially the Thin Man series, is a pleasing foil for Joan Crawford. The strong supporting cast includes Frank Morgan, the always dithering Nigel Bruce.

Mrs Cheyney is a confidence-woman, working with a gang, masterminded by William Powell who poses as a butler. The plan is to rob a lady of her jewellery. Mrs Cheyney ingratiates herself into society, the men falling at her feet. However, when it comes to the robbery, she has second thoughts. She has to admit the truth, the gang is exposed.

The film was directed by Richard Boleslawski who made such films as the 1934 Les Miserable with Charles Laughton and Fredric March. When director Richard Boleslawski died suddenly in the middle of production, George Fitzmaurice took over, and when he became ill, the film was completed by Dorothy Arzner. Both Fitzmaurice and Arzner were uncredited.

1. The film based on a play, the emphasis on dialogue, the rooms and gatherings, the confrontations?

2. The setting, the ship, the English country estate? Wealth?

3. The black and white photography, the strong cast?

4. The ship, Mrs Cheyney, the men giving her attention? English society? The planning of the scam?

5. Joan Crawford as Fay, her background, the boat, her late husband, the details of the plan, her exercising her charm?

6. Lord Kelton, Lord Dilling? Their attentions to Mrs Cheyney? The old fool? The playboy type? Their characters? Their behaviour?

7. The duchess, her friendship with Mrs Cheyney, their chatter, confidante? The issue of the jewels?

8. William Powell as Charles, the style of the butler? Lord Kelton and his remembering him from another situation? Monte Carlo? Charles and the plan? His control of the gang?

9. The pearls, the robbery plan, Mrs Cheyney and her getting the jewels?

10. The change of heart, the influence of Charles? His coming to the house? Entering surreptitiously? The conversations? The decisions?

11. Arthur, his attention to Mrs Cheyney, her seeing the truth, the confrontation with Charles?

12. The group, the upset? The duchess? The recovery of the jewels?

13. Fay’s final decisions, the place of Arthur in her life? Charles?