Customer Reviews

Evelyn Prentice [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In her film debut, Rosalind Russell plays Nancy Harrison, a woman who gets acquitted for manslaughter by her lawyer Powell - and the plot thickens......EVELYN PRENTICE demonstrated that Powell and Loy could enthrall audiences in a serious drama. In their third time out, Powell and Loy found themselves again involved with criminal doings, although not as Nick and Nora Charles!. The proceedings this time are more solemn, with less opportunity for fey humour and amusing sallies, the prevailing mood being somber. Powell turned in a performance of considerable dignity in this film as he gets across to the audience the character of a seriously dedicated man of the law who pays the price for sacrificing his personal life with his wife and child to the exigencies of his career. Myrna Loy is charming and capable as usual in the title role, and Isabel Jewell is memorable in a key role. William K. Howard directed with an expert eye for the tensions implicit in the drama, and the excellent Lenore Coffee screenplay helped Howard put a lot a narrative punch into the film. A strong supporting cast includes Una Merkel, Jessie Ralph and Edward Brophy.

I thought the movie was excellent. I love "mysteries". I enjoy trying to figure it out. The only thing I was disappointed in were the holes that we left out of the story that I could have used to figure it out. Other than that, Powell and Loy, as always, we fantastic!

This film is a great showcase of William Powell's and Myrna Loy's talent. They both shine, which makes up for any holes in the plot. The film successfully builds suspense, but it also stays short enough not to bore its viewers.

I saw this movie last night and I have to say it was an excellent movie. I won't spoil it for you, but this movie have some moral views that still stands today. Such as pick good friend, and the grass is not always greener on the other side of the street.
William Powell and Myrna Loy work so well together, but in this movie Myrna Loy steals the show, she was vulnerable, sad, happy, sexy, and just great to look at.
What can you say about Myrna Loy, that was not already stated by others. She was a great actress, and very good looking, she is miss.
I won't spoil this movie for you, but I will say this is a great movie, with great moral values. I have watch it three time since I receive my copy four days ago.

This warm and involving drama with one of the greatest screen couples in history has an elegance and class which more than make up for its somewhat pedestrian pacing. It works as both a marital drama and a crime film thanks to its two stars, William Powell and Myrna Loy, and some fabulously stylish 1930 art decor from Cedric Gibbons.

Powell is celebrated high-society defense attorney John Prentice, who gets as much press from the New York papers as anyone in town. It requires so much of his time and attention, however, that his lovely wife Evelyn (Myrna Loy) feels neglected. When he springs Nancy Harrison from a murder rap one mistake sets in motion another.

Rosalind Russell in her first role has a glamour to her as Mrs. Harrison often missing from her later performances. Loy is simply fabulous though as a wife and mother who has the trappings of happiness but not the man with which to share it. Her friend Amy (Una Merkel) urges her in the wrong direction also, which will lead to a blackmail attempt and a murder.

While it sounds explosive, it is more a mature film about a marriage than a courtroom drama. There are plenty of surprises and twists and turns, however, as a European vacation to repair the damage to the couple's marriage is delayed because Evelyn cannot allow young Judith (Isabel Jewell) to be convicted for a crime she has personal knowledge of. That's where the story has some surprises and twists which keep it interesting.

Cora Sue Collins is very sweet as the couples adorable daughter, Dorothy, and Isabel Jewell has some excellent moments in a sad role. It is Powell, and especially Loy who really shine here, however, giving the story written by W.E. Woodward and adapted for film by Lenore Coffee a warmth and sense of realism. The focus of two people who love each other but find their marriage in trouble is never lost thanks to the stars.

A fine film in the Powell/Loy catalog not to be missed by fans of the wonderful "Thin Man" series.