Lady for a Night

Lady for a Night

5/1/1942 1h 28m 5.2/10

Overview

Gambling boat operator Jenny Blake throws over her gambler beau Jack Morgan in order to marry into high society.

Director

Leigh Jason

Top Billed Cast

John Wayne

John Wayne

Jackson Morgan

Joan Blondell

Joan Blondell

Jenny Blake

Blanche Yurka

Blanche Yurka

Julia Anderson

Ray Middleton

Ray Middleton

Alan Alderson

Edith Barrett

Edith Barrett

Katherine Alderson

Philip Merivale

Philip Merivale

Stephen Alderson

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

11/8/2023

6/10

Joan Blondell delivers something of a feisty Stanwyck-style character in her depiction of successful river boat owner "Jenny". Together with her local kingpin co-partner "Jackson" (John Wayne) they make a good living from the great and the good of Tennessee society. The thing is, though, "Jenny" has ambitions to join that society. She craves respectability and when an opportunity to marry into the "Alderson" family presents itself, she doesn't think twice. Her new husband "Alan" (Ray Middleton) is a bit of a drunk, but his family need her money so unwillingly tolerate her. All except, "Julia" (Blanche Yurka) who really does look down her nose at her new in-law. The more "Jenny" tries, the more cleverly antagonistic her nemesis becomes until finally murder ensues and the truth must out... It's a bit of an amalgam of stories this, and the really rather wooden Wayne features too sparingly to make much difference to the rather meandering drama. Hattie Noel has some fun as "Chloe" and there's a bit of toe-tapping mid way through but the rest of this is all just a little procedural with an expected twist right at the denouement. It's a good looking tale of rancour, envy, love and bitterness - but told in fashion you're not really likely to remember.

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