The Lady Eve
The Lady Eve is a 1941 American screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges which stars Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda. The film is based on a story by Monckton Hoffe about a mismatched couple who meet on board an ocean liner. In 1994, The Lady Eve was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
Now separated, Jeans con team urges her to close the deal, saying shes got him over a barrel and can make a killing in a settlement. While Charles father and lawyers are on the phone with her pleading to settle quickly, Jean says she doesnt want any money at all, just for Pike to tell her its over to her face. Pike refuses, and through his father Jean learns that hes departing on another ocean voyage. She arranges her own passage, and bumps into Pike, just as they met before. Hopsie is overjoyed to see Jean again, and they instantly dash to her cabin where they mutually affirm their love for each other. Charles confesses that he is married, and Jean replies tenderly, So am I, darling.The Lady Eve was loosely based in a 19page story by Monckton Hoffe called Two Bad Hats, which was also the working title for the film. Sturges was assigned to write a script based on Hoffes story in 1938, with Claudette Colbert expected to be the star. Sturges and Paramount producer Albert Lewin had some written disagreement in 1939 about the development of the script, with Lewin writing to Sturges, the first twothirds of the script, in spite of the high quality of your jokes, will require an almost one hundred percent rewrite. Sturges objected, and eventually Lewin gave in, writing, Follow your witty nose, my boy it will lead you and me and Paramount to the Elysian pastures of popular entertainment. ........
Source: Wikipedia
