It's not exaggerating to say this is one of the wittiest, smartest and glamorous films ever made. Almost every line is an absolute gem, and every time you watch it, you hear another brilliant comment that you missed before.
Crawford was in her wickedest prime. It could be said she's a tiny bit too old for the part, but it doesn't matter due to her force of presence. Shearer was absolute perfection as the slightly self-righteous overly dramatic heroine who finally turns into a fighter. I still get goose pimples when she does the "... two years to grow claws, mother. JUNGLE red!" line. As for Russell - she's an absolute scream in her fast-talking, slapstick role.
None of the three leads steal the film from the others, as the time which they are on-screen together is limited. The supporting cast is just as fantastic - all the way down to Hedda Hopper's brief appearance at the denouement, up to Paulette Goddard, and, of course, the Countess deLave ("Oh, la publicite, la publicite!")
In terms of comedy, it is unequaled, in my opinion (except perhaps for Some Like it Hot, which is very different)
No remake could do it justice - let's please not have one!
Crawford was in her wickedest prime. It could be said she's a tiny bit too old for the part, but it doesn't matter due to her force of presence. Shearer was absolute perfection as the slightly self-righteous overly dramatic heroine who finally turns into a fighter. I still get goose pimples when she does the "... two years to grow claws, mother. JUNGLE red!" line. As for Russell - she's an absolute scream in her fast-talking, slapstick role.
None of the three leads steal the film from the others, as the time which they are on-screen together is limited. The supporting cast is just as fantastic - all the way down to Hedda Hopper's brief appearance at the denouement, up to Paulette Goddard, and, of course, the Countess deLave ("Oh, la publicite, la publicite!")
In terms of comedy, it is unequaled, in my opinion (except perhaps for Some Like it Hot, which is very different)
No remake could do it justice - let's please not have one!