The Great Man’s Lady *** (1942, Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Brian Donlevy) – Classic Movie Review 8176

Producer-director William A Wellman’s 1941 The Great Man’s Lady stars Barbara Stanwyck as a centenarian pioneer woman called Hannah Sempler Hoyt, who looks back over her life as the wife of pioneer Ethan Hoyt (Joel McCrea), in this middling, episodic flashback Western. There is plenty going on in this prestige production, with adventure, drama, romance, a few tears and a few laughs. Through the magic of the movies, Barbara Stanwyck ages 80 years.

After Ethan (McCrea)’s death, Hannah (Stanwyck) relates her important role in his rise to fame and fortune as an oil king and how they trekked from Philadelphia in search of excitement.

Brian Donlevy plays the cad Steely Edwards, who tries to steal Hannah (Stanwyck) away from Ethan (McCrea).

Wellman’s typically well-crafted though uneven mix of adventure and soap opera is a capably staged and appealingly acted Western yarn. But it is a shame about W L River’s rambling, saggy screenplay, based on a short story by Viña Delmar, and an original story by Adela Rogers St Johns and Seena Owen.

The high quality of the performances of the alluring star trio, the handsome Paramount Pictures production, Hans Dreier and A Earl Hedrick’s art direction set designs, Edith Head’s costumes, Victor Young’s lively music score and William C Mellor’s striking black and white cinematography keep it going quite nicely.

Also in the cast are Katharine Stevens [K T Stevens], Thurston Hall, Lloyd Corrigan, Etta McDaniel, Lucien Littlefield, Frank M Thomas, William B Davidson, George Irving, Helen Lynd, Mary Treen, John Hamilton, Fred ‘Snowflake’ Toones and Lillian Yarbo.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8176

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