By Violet LeVoit
Smart Woman
Brief Synopsis
A woman plots to make her cheating husband jealous.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Gregory La Cava
Director
Mary Astor
Nancy Gibson
Robert Ames
Donald Gibson
John Halliday
Sir Guy Harrington
Edward Everett Horton
Bill Ross
Noel Francis
Peggy Preston
Film Details
Also Known As
Nancy's Affair, Nancy's Private Affair
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Sep
12,
1931
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Location
San Marino, California, United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Nancy's Private Affair by Myron C. Fagan (New York, 13 Jan 1930).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Synopsis
After an extended visit with her sick mother in Paris, well-to-do Nancy Gibson sails home to New York, eager to see her home and her husband Donald. However, when she finally arrives at her estate, she is told by her sister-in-law, Sally Ross, and Sally's husband Bill, Donald's business partner, that Donald has fallen in love with a gold digger named Peggy Preston. In shock, Nancy, who had bragged about her marriage to her fellow passenger, Sir Guy Harrington, declares that she will never grant Donald a divorce. The wiser Sally, however, counsels her to be a "smart woman" and play "hard-to-get" around Donald. Desperate to win Donald back, Nancy takes Sally's advice and, when Donald returns home, acts nonchalant and understanding about his affair. Then, when a nosy neighbor shows up, Nancy denies Donald's adultery and insists that Peggy is a close friend who will be spending the weekend with her. To avoid further gossip, Nancy convinces Donald to invite Peggy and her mother to visit that weekend. Although heartbroken by the sight of Peggy, Nancy continues her ruse and casually mentions that the reason why she is indifferent about Donald's affair is because she fell in love with a man in Europe. On cue, roses arrive from Guy, and Donald's jealousy is piqued. Then, an uninformed Guy drives up and is greeted with passion by Nancy. After Nancy confesses her problem, she begs Guy to help her, but Guy, who is in love with her, refuses. During the weekend, however, Guy, who has been declared the richest bachelor in Europe, encourages Peggy's affection and, after several outings with her, sways her from Donald, whose financial status Bill has deliberately tarnished. Just before he is to leave with Peggy, Donald, who has been reminiscing warmly with Nancy, discovers Peggy embracing Guy. Concerned now for Nancy's feelings, Donald confronts Guy, who reveals that he has no interest in Peggy or in Nancy. As Nancy eavesdrops, Donald confesses to the self-sacrificing Guy that he is in love with his wife. Guy slips away, and Nancy shows Donald the affectionate letters she had written to him from Europe as proof of her undying love.
Director
Gregory La Cava
Director
Cast
Mary Astor
Nancy Gibson
Robert Ames
Donald Gibson
John Halliday
Sir Guy Harrington
Edward Everett Horton
Bill Ross
Noel Francis
Peggy Preston
Ruth Weston
Sally Ross
Gladys Gale
Mrs. Preston
Alfred Cross
Brooks
Lillian Harmer
Mrs. Windleweaver
Pearl Varvelle
Ellen
Crew
Videos
Movie Clip
Film Details
Also Known As
Nancy's Affair, Nancy's Private Affair
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Sep
12,
1931
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Location
San Marino, California, United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Nancy's Private Affair by Myron C. Fagan (New York, 13 Jan 1930).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Articles
Smart Woman (1931) -
They say Paris is the most romantic city, but all the shenanigans in the life of Nancy (Mary Astor) are happening in what she thought was her happy home. When it's hinted her husband Donald (Robert Ames) has been fooling around with blonde social climber Peggy (Noel Francis), a distraught Nancy considers divorce - until her sister-in-law Sally (Ruth Weston) suggests another strategy. Because of the very real temptations faced by women whose mates were overseas, films of the 1940s with an adultery plot (like the Irene Dunne/Cary Grant picture Too Many Husbands (1940)) were often easy titillation for women fancying about choosing between two men. This movie, however, made in the thick of the Great Depression, has a cannier strategy at its core - instead of turning a blind eye, it plays tit for tat. Director Gregory La Cava's expertise on other winking pre-Code pictures like The Half Naked Truth (1932) and The Age Of Consent (1932) helps the proceedings along. Mary Astor would weather her own cheating scandal in real life, when her indiscreet diary was made public during her 1936 divorce.
By Violet LeVoit
By Violet LeVoit
Smart Woman (1931) -
They say Paris is the most romantic city, but all the shenanigans in the life of Nancy (Mary Astor) are happening in what she thought was her happy home. When it's hinted her husband Donald (Robert Ames) has been fooling around with blonde social climber Peggy (Noel Francis), a distraught Nancy considers divorce - until her sister-in-law Sally (Ruth Weston) suggests another strategy. Because of the very real temptations faced by women whose mates were overseas, films of the 1940s with an adultery plot (like the Irene Dunne/Cary Grant picture Too Many Husbands (1940)) were often easy titillation for women fancying about choosing between two men. This movie, however, made in the thick of the Great Depression, has a cannier strategy at its core - instead of turning a blind eye, it plays tit for tat. Director Gregory La Cava's expertise on other winking pre-Code pictures like The Half Naked Truth (1932) and The Age Of Consent (1932) helps the proceedings along. Mary Astor would weather her own cheating scandal in real life, when her indiscreet diary was made public during her 1936 divorce.
By Violet LeVoit
Smart Woman - Smart Woman
Smart Woman - Smart Woman
A woman plots to make her cheating husband jealous.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were Nancy's Private Affair and Nancy's Affair. According to Film Daily, scenes for the film were shot in San Marino, CA, where the exterior of the famous "Wilson home and gardens" was used. According to Variety, Smart Woman was the first picture to play at RKO's Roxy Theatre in New York.
