Ever Since Eve

"Ever Since Eve" is a cute comedy from 1937 starring Marion Davies, Robert Montgomery, Patsy Kelly, and Allen Jenkins.

Davies plays a secretary who gets sick of the men she works for hitting on her all the time - so sick, in fact, that she makes herself into a homely frump and goes to work for Robert Montgomery, who plays an author in need of someone efficient so that he can finish his book.

Davies' transformation is very good, but I have to admit that I didn't find her so much of a knockout normally that no man could keep his hands off of her. It was really a role for someone like Jean Harlow.

The interesting thing is, Davies was 40 at the time. It was unusual in those days for an actress to still be playing starring roles by then and only superstars with clout could get away with it.

Norma Shearer retired at 40, as did Greta Garbo; by the time Joan Crawford was 38, MGM was giving her junk, and she was drummed out of the studio.

Davies is very good, and the film is cute, with good performances from the rest of the cast. Davies' acting abilities come as no surprise to me, as I have enjoyed many of her performances. She was a bright presence as well.

"Ever Since Eve" goes down easily. It's not a masterpiece, not a classic screwball comedy, but it's very enjoyable.

William Randolph Hearst preferred to see mistress Marion Davies in magnolia-scented romances, but comedy was her forte, and she gets a nice chance to show off in this screwball romance, her last movie. She's a capable secretary who's sick of being pawed by her bosses and disguises herself as a frump. The trouble is that even a brunette-wig Marion with unbecoming glasses isn't THAT hideous, and the plot machinations stemming from her deception thus seem a little under-motivated. Further, it's something of a B supporting cast--what's Louise Fazenda doing in a role with Edna May Oliver written all over it, and why isn't Gail Patrick playing Marion's nemesis instead of this nobody? Bob Montgomery is just fine playing the light-leading-man sort of role he did dozens of times, and Patsy Kelly and Allen Jenkins are very reliable in this sort of thing. It doesn't sparkle, but as others have noted, it makes its serious points about women in the workplace who aren't appreciated for their talents, and Marion looks like she's having fun getting to be something other than a boring beauty.

Marion Davies was a accomplished comedienne & actress who has been unfairly maligned because of her long standing affair & association w/ WR Hearst. He bankrolled & heavily promoted her career. This was her final film & she was 39 or 40 when she starred in it. She is still very attractive & 40 isn't old but for a woman in Hollywood, it's the death knell for an actress's career. She was past her time to play an ingenue & she knew it. She quit & devoted herself to Hearst until his death then donated a fortune to children's charities. She also had difficult later years because of alcoholism & cancer but she was not the tragic character, Susan Alexander Kane, portrayed in Citizen Kane. The fictional character was forced by Kane to be an opera singer in spite of no talent. Marion Davies had talent but was neither respected nor appreciated. Ever Since Eve is a minor but successful swan song for her career. The supporting actors perform well especially the very gifted comedienne Patsy Kelly.

Marion Davies is Marge, a secretary who has trouble with unwelcome advances from her bosses. One day she hears of a job working for a publisher who only hires plain secretaries. So Marge gets a makeover and is plain enough to get the job. The lady publisher who employs her doesn't want her male writers distracted by pretty secretaries. So Marge is sent to work for writer Freddy Matthews (Robert Montgomery) and keep his mind on his job. Naturally this leads to a lot of complications. Marion Davies is very funny as Marge, and so is Patsy Kelly as Marge's down-to-earth friend Sadie. Robert Montgomery is delightful as always. I love this film, it's so funny, a pity it's not better known.

Had always heard how rotten this film was. Imagine my surprise when I finally saw it and found it one of the most enjoyable of the Warner's 30's comedies. Marion is a delight, totally natural . . . which is why I guess, they never thought she could act! The film has a great supporting cast. Louise Fazenda has a hilarious role as Abigail Beldon the book publisher, and Merle Oberon look alike, Marcia Ralston makes a vicious "other woman". The whole thing is fun. Take it for what it is . . . just entertainment.

Oh yes, plot is Marion makes herself over to be plain and ugly to get a job and falls for Robert Mongomery, her employer.