Adapted from the hit Broadway play by Clare Boothe (who was later Mrs. Luce, by dint of marriage to the founder of Time magazine), The Women does portray its subjects as inordinately fond of catty gossip, but also has some interesting points to make about female bonding and societal pressures. Norma Shearer plays Mary Haines, a wealthy and loving woman married to an adoring husband and the mother of sweet Little Mary (Weidler, admirably pulling off a difficult part). Mary has no idea that her mate is having an affair with predatory perfume seller Crystal Allen (Joan Crawford).





Mary's girlfriends know, and the bitchiest of the lot, Sylvia Fowler (Rosalind Russell), arranges for Mary to get the news herself from the gossipy manicurist (Dennie Moore) who first started circulating the story. Sylvia, of course, urges Mary to confront the brazen shopgirl, so as to ensure herself a front row seat to the anticipated catfight, but Mary takes her mother's (Lucile Watson) advice and chooses to say nothing and simply let the affair play itself out. For Little Mary's sake, she tries to keep up appearences. Unfortunately, Mary encounters Crystal at a fancy clothing salon and, in a blistering scene, the two women exchange words.





Mary leaves New York to be "'Reno'vated" for a six-week divorce and meets the Countess de Lave (Mary Boland), an aging former showgirl who has been married several times. She also encounters Miriam Aarons (Paulette Goddard), who is having an affair with Sylvia's husband. Mary and the others check in to a ranch owned by Lucy (Marjorie Main). Sylvia arrives, and when she realizes that it was Miriam who stole her husband, a battle ensues between the two women. Mary's surprise, though, is soon tempered as she learns that her former mate, rather than calling her to stop the divorce at the 11th hour, has married Crystal. Later, when she gets home to New York, Mary discovers that her ex is unhappy in his new marriage, and that Crystal has taken to both spending money with a passion and having an affair with a radio singing cowboy married to the former Countess.





Finally showing her mother that, she, too, has had her nails done in "Jungle Red", Mary embraces the predatory principles of her friends and artfully tries to win her husband back. Filled with witty repartee and vicious gossip, The Women portrays a world where women seem to do nothing but obsess over men. All the performances are joys. Shearer has never been more restrained, and her performance never falters. Crawford, meanwhile, brilliantly revitalized her career with one of her finest acting achievements, a funny, spot-on portrait of the scheming, sexy Crystal. Hard as nails throughout, she uses her velvet voice to great effect, and her parting salvo at the end is a killer...

"There's a name for you ladies, but isn't used in high society, outside of a kennel!"


Rosalind Russell almost steals the show in a showcase part that made her a top star. The sexy Paulette Goddard make a strong showing, though perhaps the funniest performance is contributed by the marvelous Mary Boland as the wacky Countess. The whole cast, children and pets included, are all female. Cukor's direction is superb. Strong characterizations, taught pacing, and a luxorious settings, have made The Women a camp classic.