La dama en cuestión

Having seen (and commented on for IMDb) the more recent movie by the same title with Gene Wilder, I wanted to watch the 1940 movie to see if there was any resemblance between the two. There was none. Although I am less qualified to evaluate this movie, considering it was made eight years before I was born, I must say it seemed to me that this court-room mystery could not make up its mind whether it wanted to be a comedy or a serious drama. There were alternating comedic and serious touches which I believe detracted from the overall enjoyment of the film. However, the story was enjoyable for a one-time viewing. Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford were familiar to me. Brian Aherne was unfamiliar to me in name, but I believe I recognized him from other movies. He reminded me a little of blustering William Powell in "Life with Father," a movie I cannot stand. It seemed to me the wife could have seen through the father's stories a lot sooner, the silliness of the daughter was overdone, and the scenes with Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth could have been more revealing as to their true feelings for each other. The pairing of the daughter with the fat boy was predictable. And I don't know that the real truth about Rita Hayworth's character really made all that much difference in the end. But these are just my opinions, and I'm glad to say I was able to view the film this once.

I never thought I'd see the movie that would endear me to Rita Hayworth. I'm notorious for criticizing her, but not only did I not hate her in The Lady in Question, but I willingly admit she gave a fine performance. This isn't her usual role; there's no shade of Gilda in it.

An unrecognizable Brian Aherne stars as a peasant patriarch who owns a bicycle shop. He's too soft in his business and gets hassled by his wife, Irene Rich. His daughter Evelyn Keyes is young, foolish, and in love with the boy next door, but Brian doesn't want to see her grown up so soon. His son Glenn Ford (who looks adorable in his young curls) has a passion for astronomy. Brian has just been called to jury duty, and his excitement is adorable. He's waited 27 years to sit on a jury, and he won't let anything stop him. He's insulted when he's relegated to an alternate, but when a juror keels over, he literally snatches the seat out from under while others are attending to the man's health. The case is a murder trial, and Rita Hayworth is fighting for her life. Brian takes his duties incredibly seriously, and his enthusiasm is infectious. It's hard to believe this is the same Errol Flynn lookalike who sculpted a nude Marlene Dietrich in Song of Songs, when he's so convincing as a middle-aged, paunchy, stubborn, not-too-bright, peasant. If you liked him in My Son, My Son, you've got to see him in this.

The script is very funny, even though the subject matter lends it more to a drama. Brian's tongue is faster than his brain, and he often talks himself into a corner with no way out. While trying to end a conversation with an irritating pal, he accuses him of winking at his wife in church. At the dinner table, he tries to distract everyone from the topic at hand by praising his wife's soup. When that doesn't work, he asks for salt, insisting that she never puts enough in the soup. When that doesn't work, he spits the soup out and leaves the table, claiming she always puts in too much salt and he can't stand to eat it. With a mixture of quick comedy, dramatic plot points, and great acting, you'll have a very enjoyable evening when you rent The Lady in Question.

Andre Morestan (Brian Aherne) owns a Paris bicycle shop with his family. He's eager to serve in a jury. The trial has Natalie Roguin (Rita Hayworth) facing a murder charge. Andre convinces the jury to acquit. After the trial, he gives her a job at his shop. He keeps her identity a secret from his family but his son Pierre (Glenn Ford) recognizes her. His daughter Francois is overjoyed to be engaged to Robert LaCoste who owns the dance studio next door. Robert turns out to be a lascivious sleaze with his eye on Natalie.

It's a lesser old movie. The acting is broad and so are the attempts at humor. This is a remake of a French film and I'm sure a ton of jokes don't get through the translation. The trial takes place in the first thirty minutes. Andre is a childish considering the situation. It seems to be aimed as a comedy but it's not funny. After Natalie gets the job, there are some sitcom-like misunderstandings. Again it's not funny but it's still watchable. The movie feels short-changed and the shorter running time may have something to do with that.

This film has a fine cast, including the first of half a dozen pairings of Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. It is only Ford's seventh film, but Hayward had made more than 30 films since 1934. This is a good look at the young Ford before he became the more mature character most movie fans will remember him as. Other members of the supporting cast do very well too. Curt Bois is very good as Henri Lurette, and Irene Rich is especially good in the role of Michele Morestan.

But "The Lady in Question" is a Brian Aherne showcase all the way. His Andre Morestan is a character, in a true sense of the word - comical at times, caring at other times, and conflicted often enough. Who couldn't help liking him or wanting him for a friend? Aherne's particular persona in putting flair into scenes is shown at its best here. It's the stuff that provided much laughter in one of the funniest comedies of all time, "Merrily We Live" of 1938. And, that he used for much laughter in "The Great Garrick" of 1937, and in "Hired Wife" of 1940 and other films. This is one actor one would have liked to see in more comedies.

When this film was made, Aherne was one of the top box office draws, especially in comedy. He was an all around actor and good in drama and mysteries. But I think he excelled in comedy. Yet he only made 14 comedies of his 70 credits, which included mostly TV series roles in his last decade. By the mid-1960s he was through with acting and retired permanently at age 65

This story is set in Paris. Morestan and his wife own a bicycle and music shop and live above it. He is thrilled to be called for jury duty selection, after waiting nearly 30 years. The humor is apparent when he is contrasted to most people who try to avoid jury duty. Well, he holds out and eventually persuades his fellow jurors to enter a not guilty verdict in a murder or suicide case. But then, when he feels sorry for and invites the acquitted poor girl, Natalie Roguin, to stay in their home and work in their store, the humor ramps up. Suspicion, jealousy, envy, distrust, false impressions, romance and more with Andre's wife, son and daughter, her suitor, and Mr. Lurette, a fellow juror.

The film has a slight blanket of intrigue over whether or not Natalie was guilty of a crime after all. And it has a very nice twist for an ending. Here are a few favorite lines from the film.

Andre Morestan, "What makes everyone think that a trial is a picnic?"

Michele Morestan, "I don't want you to go to trials. If your father wants to associate with criminals, let him; but not you." Andre Morestan, "Tell your mother that a juror associates with the police, not with criminals."

Andre Morestan, "I've told my wife so many lies, I don't think I could ever tell her the truth now."

Having read all of the posts about "The Lady in Question", I can understand how disappointed some people would be, expecting either a Rita Hayworth-Glenn Ford vehicle, a la "Gilda" or a faithful replica of it's source: the French film, "Gibouille". This doesn't take away that "The Lady in Question" is an entertaining film with an odd, curious yet sweet charm that comes upon one quietly and lingers long after the film is over.

Two of the posters regarded "The Lady in Question" as a pallid remake of "Gibouille". Having seen some pre-WWII French films, they were not greatly more explicit than Hollywood was, at the time, in dealing with sex and crime. "The Lady in Question" is a mild comedy-drama made by a studio that was well-equipped to handle such material, Columbia Pictures. Director Charles Vidor, a Frenchman himself, nicely, subtly, and lingeringly establishes time and place. It greatly allows for the suspension of disbelief of hearing perfect English accents on French characters.

This film showcases Brian Aherne, who all too rarely was showcased at all, let alone in a comedy that he carried. He plays Morestan, the bicycle shopkeeper, admirably and almost succeeds in making one believe he was a middle-aged shopkeeper. He has just the right light tone to unify what is a mild plot and a minor-A film. Yes, studios didn't always make big-budget films with their stars. Many of their films, including "A" pictures, were "programmers", films that showcased stars and promising contract players. This, "The Lady in Question" did.

The players do shine, even though this film is an early entry for future stars Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, and Evelyn Keyes. In what could've been a merely decorative role, Hayworth truly has that "lady of mystery" quality that not only holds your attention but, momentarily, keeps one guessing as to whether or not she was guilty. Glenn Ford plays what would've been a callow juvenile with earnestness, a convincing portrait of young lust/love, and just enough vulnerability to make his love/suspicion relationship with Hayworth's character believable. Everyone acquits (pun intended)themselves very well in this film. Since the American film industry doesn't put out "programmers" anymore and we, as a public, are conditioned to see most star vehicles as big-budget affairs, it's a lost art but a beautiful one to sit, savor, and merely enjoy a well-crafted, entertaining film that isn't about anything special but delivers.