Evelyn Prentice (1934)

Evelyn Prentice
Directed by William K. Howard
1934/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
First Viewing

Evelyn Prentice: There’s nothing wrong with those letters.They’re innocent.
Lawrence Kennard: Then why are you here?
Evelyn Prentice: There’s nothing safe with a man like you.

Engaging “women’s picture”/courtroom drama.  John Prentice (William Powell) is a high-powered defense attorney whose practice keeps him away from home most of the time.  Evelyn Prentice (Myrna Loy) is his long-suffering but adoring wife.  Their happy home is threatened when a beautiful client (Rosalind Russell) throws herself at John and an unsavory “poet” insinuates himself into Evelyn’s life.  With Una Merkel as Evelyn’s wise-cracking friend and permanent house guest.

I thought this one was a whole lot of fun.  It goes to show that Powell and Loy were the perfect screen couple even when the material gets more serious as here.  I had never heard of the director but he certainly keeps things moving right along.  I adore Una Merkel and she has a meaty part here.  This was Rosalind Russell’s screen debut.  She was still finding her way.  I seem to always get annoyed at courtroom dramas and here neither the judge nor the attorneys ever seem to have heard of concept “conflict of interest”.  The film was strong enough that the improbable ending was fine by me.

Trailer