When Ladies Meet (1941) with Joan Crawford, Greer Garson and Robert Taylor

1941 when ladies meet

4 of Hollywood’s Biggest Stars in 1941’s gay and racy comedy!
Joan Crawford and Greer Garson take center stage in 1941’s When Ladies Meet, a remake of a film of the same title from just a few years prior. Crawford and Garson are supported by Robert Taylor and Herbert Marshall.

When Ladies Meet is a bit of a dated theme (actually not the theme but more how it is accepted), with Joan as writer Mary Howard on the verge of consummating an affair with her publisher Rogers Woodruf (Herbert Marshall). On the side Mary has long-term friend Jimmy (Robert Taylor) who is just dying to make her his wife. She rebukes him several times and finally literally leaves him behind for a retreat to finish the final chapters of her latest book. Of course Rogers heads over to her rented house in the country to be with her as well.

1941 when ladies meet robert taylor joan crawfordCatching on to her location, Jimmy befriends Rogers’ wife Clare (Garson) and fakes getting lost in the country conveniently outside the house in which Mary is staying – after first calling Rogers’ office creating an emergency so that he leaves Mary alone.

On arrival at the house, owned by Bridget Drake (Spring Byrington), Jimmy introduces Clare as his distant cousin and they flirt together outrageously to make Mary jealous.

Unfortunately for Jimmy the jealousy never comes and Mary and Clare quickly become friends, with Clare eventually opening up and revealing that not only is she married but that her husband is a chronic philanderer, which she has after many years come to accept. Though she knows how her marriage will end, if it ever does.

1941 when ladies meet herbert marshall joan crawfordShortly thereafter Rogers returns, having learned of Jimmy’s ruse only to find his wife with his almost mistress. Exposed, Clare leaves Rogers and Mary- at least for a bit- is manless.

When Ladies Meet isn’t fine art, but it moves at a nice and easygoing pace. Concerning, however, is the rather pedestrian way in which infidelity is cast as almost commonplace and no real consequence.

More perplexing is that both of these women with their relative charms are this distraught over the physically and uninspiring (at least in this character) Herbert Marshall. Though definitely just a foil for moving the plot along, Rogers is as flat a character as a cardboard box.

1941 when ladies meet greer garson joan crawfordThe dynamic between Joan Crawford and Greer Garson is interesting as well. Crawford is challenging to believe as a witty and world renowned author, though she tries hard. And, though given top billing, it’s hard not to see MGM setting up Garson as their next big star here.

As Clare, Garson inspires with morality and kindness, stealing the picture from Crawford even though she doesn’t appear until about halfway through. Having established earlier the parameters under which if breached she would leave Rogers, she has no trouble executing them when the situation arises.

But perhaps the most inspired performance is from Robert Taylor, which is somewhat surprising. His is the only character relatively grounded in reality and it is almost exclusively his machinations which drive the results he’s looking for. Most of the comedy of the picture also comes from him, excluding some more slapstick banter coming from the overly hysterical Bridget Drake.

1941 when ladies meet robert taylor greer garsonIncidentally, it’s only a thinly veiled secret that Bridget is running around with her French manservant. Again, to no one’s evident chagrin. Nothing to see there, one supposes. When Ladies Meet was a movie I wasn’t even familiar with until finding it on the soon to be closed Filmstruck service. Not to digress, but it’s a shame such a service- the only streaming service to focus almost exclusively on classic films from primarily the Criterion Collection, the Warner Archive and TCM- closes because of corporate greed. If you’ve never subscribed to Filmstruck you missed a great opportunity- it’s stopped taking new customers prior to its closure towards the end of the month.

Wonder why folks don’t know that this year’s A Star is Born was the fourth incarnation of the film?

I don’t.

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