Beauty vs Beast: The Red Jungles of High Society
Monday, August 10, 2015 at 7:36PM Jason from MNPP here with this week's episode of "Beauty vs Beast" for your fun-time entertainment -- while it's certainly not as important numerically as the approaching 100 year anniversary of Ingrid Bergman (which we're celebrating with great enthusiasm here at TFE) I think it's a happy enough happenstance that today marks the 113th anniversary of the birth of the terrific actress Norma Shearer and we should likewise celebrate her. And what better way than with that grand dame of cinematic cattiness, George Cukor's 1939 classic The Women? Shearer plays the betrayed society wife Mary, whose husband can't resist the shopgirl charms of (one two three - hiss!) Miss Crystal Allen, played by a totally game Joan Crawford. There's no way to play if you don't enter the kennel...
PREVIOUSLY Last week we also took on a "good wife" trampled by some dark-haired hussy, facing down Joan Allen and Sigourney Weaver in The Ice Storm. And the hussy won! The hussy always wins. (As we'll probably find out in another week when this Women poll's results come in.) Said Joe:
"Both women were brilliant in this. This is my favorite Ang Lee film. I'd give the edge to Sigourney. Outside of the Alien films, this is her best work. It's SHOCKING that she was not nominated for an Oscar that year. I mean, Minnie Driver??"
Reader Comments (18)
Definitely Crystal because she worked too hard on that meal ticket to make any false moves, although did realise that pride is something a woman in love can't afford. (Also, I think Mary's husband was Stephen Haines)
Whoops, you're right James, Stephen it is. Fixed that, Thanks!
Voted Crystal. It's Joan over Norma (bitch over lady) every time. Apologies to Mr Thalberg.
BIG Pros for Crystal: "When Stephen doesn't like something I'm wearing, I take it ........OFF !!!"
"Has too many men" is a con?
She has a icebox like my own filled with 'cobwebs and a bottle of gin."
Um, Roz Russell's fast-talking gossip Sylvia FTW. ALWAYS.
can we do a Crawford Vs Garbo from Grand Hotel? I would easily vote for Crawford in that one, but i am considering voting for Shearer in this one. Joan has a great character, but Norma is playing a person.
Yes Denny yes!
noble wives and mothers bore the brains out of me. team crystal!
Yeah I'd have voted for Roz if she'd been a choice. Or even Paulette Goddard. As it is, I'll go for Norma Shearer since Joan Crawford has SO MANY FANS already. Plus Norma won't complain about any wire hangers or mind if I drink Coke products.
To those of you not voting for Crystal, as she herself would say, "There's a name for you ladies, but it isn't used in high society... outside of a kennel. So long, ladies!"
"Norman" Shearer is pretty accurate...
TEAM CRYSTAL
You are all terrible people. What about the sanctity of marriage! ;) VOTE NORMA
"...Mrs. PROWLER!"
Love Roz/Sylvia, she steals the show!
It's Love over Love of Money, so Team Mary. Crystal never once says she loves Stephen.
Can I say that still of Sigourney is AWESOME.
Crystal all the way (and Joan Crawford at her best)!
I love this movie. and am happy to see Mrs Stephen Haines rallying toward the end of voting!