Dragonfly Lady (1936)

Directed by: Jack Conway | 98 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Jean Harlow, William Powell, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy, Walter Connolly, Charley Grapewin, Cora Witherspoon, EE Clive, Bunny Beatty, Otto Yamaoka, Charles Trowbridge, Spencer Charters, George Chandler, William Benedict, Hal K. Dawson, William Newell, Robin Adair, Norman Ainsley, Harry Allen, Tommy Bond, Harry C. Bradley, Ralph Brooks, Charles Croker-King, George Davis, Jay Eaton, Fred Graham, Sherry Hall, Howard C. Hickman, Hattie McDaniel, Greta Meyer

The careers of William Powell and Myrna Loy are inextricably linked. Together they made no fewer than fourteen films, including six about ‘The Thin Man’, based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. Powell played retired private investigator Nick Charles and Loy’s wealthy wife Nora, who her family said was married below her means. Not only the crimes they were faced with appealed to the public, their mutual relationship also appealed to the imagination. The first and best film in the series, ‘The Thin Man’ (1934), inventively combined humor, romance and crime, making it a textbook example for many ambitious filmmakers. Loy was very pleased with her opponent: “I never enjoyed my work more than when I worked with William Powell. He was a brilliant actor, a delightful companion, a great friend and above all, a true gentleman.” In 1936, this golden duo was paired up with two other big stars of the MGM stable, Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow, for the hilarious screwball comedy ‘Libeled Lady’.

As usual in this genre, the story, based on a novel by Wallace Sullivan, is bursting with complex situations where the characters struggle to talk their way out. Gladys Benton (Jean Harlow) has made several attempts to marry her lover, journalist Warren Haggerty (Spencer Tracy). He absolutely loves her but is a workaholic through and through; everything and everyone has to make way for his job at The New York Evening Star, including Gladys. On the day of their umpteenth marriage attempt, panic breaks out when the morning issue reveals a compromising story about wealthy society lady Connie Allenbury (Myrna Loy), daughter of influential millionaire James B. Allenbury (Walter Connolly). ). She is now demanding $5 million in damages. Since that could mean the end of the newspaper, Warren does everything in his power to change her mind. He enlists the help of his former colleague Bill Chandler (William Powell), a smooth man who specializes in defamation cases. Together with Gladys, he puts on a play to blackmail Connie. A good plan, were it not that he falls head over heels in love with Connie. And that doesn’t make things any easier, of course…

A lot of memorable screwball comedies were made in the 1930s and 1940s. It all started with ‘It Happened One Night’ (1934), after which a boom of similar romantic comedies was launched. Each and every one of them skim past the viewer at a killer pace, characterized by improbable but hilarious plot twists in which the contrasts between men and women are central. ‘Libeled Lady’ also fits that definition. The men and women are constantly diametrically opposed to each other and fight a true joust, but in the process they only get madder at each other. The dialogues and one-liners are on the cutting edge (Mr. Allenbury on Chandler: “That man is a first class angler!” Connie Allenbury: “If he’s first class, I’m traveling steerage.”) and the situations hold up. midway between farce and slapstick. A prime example of this is the hilarious fishing adventure Chandler embarks on to impress Connie. The very funny screenplay was penned by Maurine Watkins, Howard Emmett Rogers and George Oppenheimer. Everything is under the tight direction of Jack Conway, for whom this would turn out to be his best film. With each of the four protagonists he would go on a repeat, but none of them reached the level of ‘Libeled Lady’.

It is therefore not the least stars who signed for a role in this film. The tragic Jean Harlow (1911 – 1937), who became engaged to co-star William Powell during the shooting of ‘Libeled Lady’, steals the show as the somewhat vulgar and quite physical Gladys, who wants nothing more than to marry her Warren, but there tired of having to play second fiddle all the time. Not a single woman – and certainly not Harlow! – would allow himself to be used like a footstool by a guy, but you don’t have to think that far with a film like this. Myrna Loy naturally plays the distinguished snob Connie, who is slowly thawed by Chandler’s charms, superbly portrayed by William Powell. Both actors knew what they had in each other, as they had worked together before. The chemistry between them is very natural. And then there’s Spencer Tracy, reliable as ever. His role is the least sparkling of the quartet, but a gifted actor like him can handle it just fine. Supporting roles include Walter Connolly and Cora Witherspoon. Also technically this print is perfectly fine; the beautiful black-and-white camera work is by Norbert Brodine and composer William Axt was responsible for the original musical score.

‘Libeled Lady’ is a classic screwball comedy that can be counted among the best in its genre. Everything about this movie is right; timing, direction, camera work and music are perfectly matched. But above all, this print relies on the talent of its four protagonists. Director Jack Conway could, as it were, sit back and let Powell, Tracy, Harlow and Loy do their thing. Particularly hilarious dialogues and situations, which the modern viewer will be able to enjoy to the full, are the result. For lovers of the classic romantic comedy, ‘Libeled Lady’ is definitely a must see!