This was a well done film based in the Victorian era with Teresa Wright (as an actress/dancer) and Ray Milland as a London Public Official facing scandal after her involvement with Anthony Quinn prior to their marriage. With a Downton Abbey type feel to the movie, there are hidden identities and backgrounds when confronted with the past as well as a tense last courtroom scene where a character faces the gallows unless the big secret is revealed. Interestingly enough, the secret is big and though downplayed for the time period this was made, was actually quite dramatic and scandalous for the time and did pave the way for a happy ending. I saw this online actually and is in very good condition to watch. I recommend it for its adult storyline, well acted players and a surprise denouement.
4 Reviews
Fantastic classic story
HotToastyRag8 July 2023
Some of the plot turns of The Imperfect Lady will have you shaking your head at the mistakes and bad judgment of the characters, but that's what makes an unforgettable story. Remember The Mayor of Casterbridge and Tess? Surprisingly, this movie wasn't based on a book. It definitely had the old-fashioned flavor of a novel, which I would definitely look forward to reading, but it was an original screenplay. Hats off to Karl Tunberg and Ladislas Fodor making their script authentic!
In the olden days, being an actress was only one step up from prostitution, so it's understandable that when Teresa Wright decides to pursue a career on the stage, her father disowns her. She's a good girl (then what is she doing in the theater?) but often consorts with people with lower morals. When she and her colleague, Virginia Field, have an accidental run-in with high-brow politician Ray Milland, he takes them for a pair of real ladies. Virginia puts on a phony accent and pretends she's well bred as well, and Ray falls for Teresa's natural sweetness.
Ray isn't the only accidental run-in the girls have. While walking home from work one evening (still in their stage makeup and looking like harlots), they're approached by a handsome smooth talker: Anthony Quinn. Teresa is outraged; she's no street walker! A nearby policeman doesn't believe her, and she finds herself accused and on the run - what's a lady to do?
There's so much more to this story, but I want to let it all unfold for you. It is very dramatic (and at times melodramatic), really fitting into the classic novel formula. Secrets, scandals, forbidden love, class distinction, and more that I won't spoil for you, are all found in The Imperfect Lady. Although Teresa doesn't put on an English accent, she tries awfully hard in this meaty role. I'd definitely recommend it, and I'm waiting for someone to write an after-the-fact novel that I can pick up!
In the olden days, being an actress was only one step up from prostitution, so it's understandable that when Teresa Wright decides to pursue a career on the stage, her father disowns her. She's a good girl (then what is she doing in the theater?) but often consorts with people with lower morals. When she and her colleague, Virginia Field, have an accidental run-in with high-brow politician Ray Milland, he takes them for a pair of real ladies. Virginia puts on a phony accent and pretends she's well bred as well, and Ray falls for Teresa's natural sweetness.
Ray isn't the only accidental run-in the girls have. While walking home from work one evening (still in their stage makeup and looking like harlots), they're approached by a handsome smooth talker: Anthony Quinn. Teresa is outraged; she's no street walker! A nearby policeman doesn't believe her, and she finds herself accused and on the run - what's a lady to do?
There's so much more to this story, but I want to let it all unfold for you. It is very dramatic (and at times melodramatic), really fitting into the classic novel formula. Secrets, scandals, forbidden love, class distinction, and more that I won't spoil for you, are all found in The Imperfect Lady. Although Teresa doesn't put on an English accent, she tries awfully hard in this meaty role. I'd definitely recommend it, and I'm waiting for someone to write an after-the-fact novel that I can pick up!
A story of a strumpet and her many men...and lots of scandal.
mark.waltz1 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I was hoping for a better film here, starting promising but not moving into the direction I hope it was heading. Teresa Wright is a lower class British girl, estranged from puritanical father Reginald Owen who has a job in a music hall show but longs for a life of respectability. Along with friend Virginia Field, she maneuvers an invitation for "tea" from an upper class gentleman (Ray Milland) whom she overhears giving a liberal political speech. One night hiding from the police hiding out in the flat of pianist Anthony Quinn comes back to haunt her after she marries Milland and Quinn is put on trial for murder. Wright becomes a major witness in the defense, and ultimately a "lady of scandal".
While handsome and well photographed, this bland drama is filled with a ton of plot holes and is often dull and humorless. I was hoping that Wright's low class girl would become a Margaret Lockwood like schemer, but she's unfortunately not all that interesting. Character actors Cedric Hardwicke and Melville Cooper are good in supporting roles, but the set-up for Milland's rising politician is never realized after a great start. Quinn has the potential of being the most interesting character, but most of the plot holes end up pulling his character into the abyss.
What appears to be an arty film in concept is sadly a near misfire, dry and dull in spite of great potential. That explains why this is rather obscure today, and while Wright was hot at the time, she seems shoved into this because Paulette Goddard was not available. It's professionally put together, but lackluster direction by Lewis Allen (who only directed a tiny number of memorable films) seems to be the main issue.
While handsome and well photographed, this bland drama is filled with a ton of plot holes and is often dull and humorless. I was hoping that Wright's low class girl would become a Margaret Lockwood like schemer, but she's unfortunately not all that interesting. Character actors Cedric Hardwicke and Melville Cooper are good in supporting roles, but the set-up for Milland's rising politician is never realized after a great start. Quinn has the potential of being the most interesting character, but most of the plot holes end up pulling his character into the abyss.
What appears to be an arty film in concept is sadly a near misfire, dry and dull in spite of great potential. That explains why this is rather obscure today, and while Wright was hot at the time, she seems shoved into this because Paulette Goddard was not available. It's professionally put together, but lackluster direction by Lewis Allen (who only directed a tiny number of memorable films) seems to be the main issue.
Teresa Wright getting mixed up with aristocratic politician Ray Milland and misused Spanish pianist Anthony Quinn
clanciai20 December 2018
This is a surprisingly interesting thriller set in the Oscar Wilde world of 1892 with cheap theatres, ballets and dancers having a hard time in contrast to the highest levels of society with particular aristocrats being careful about not getting contaminated by scandals, which they can't avoid. Ray Milland is a liberal politician driving the Irish issue and the suffrage of women already in 1892, for which he is both furiously attacked by mobs and partly successful, who gets mixed up with Teresa Wright, lovely as usual in a role perfectly fitted for her, as a poor ballet dancer who for her beauty gets into trouble with ungentlemanly men. On one occasion she is saved by Anthony Quinn, a brilliant Spanish pianist in London who is out of work, and gradually finds himself in deep trouble. Only she can save him, but she is then already heavily mixed up with society and politics.
Music plays an important part here, it's practically only Chopin all the way, and at one instance Anthony Quinn performs an absolutely brilliant improvisation on the Nocturne opus 9:2. The action is fast throughout, and the blend between extremely different levels of society in the scandal problem produces an intrigue of lasting interest, growing more exciting all the time. Cedric Hardwicke makes a perfect lord of authority caring only about the particulars of a good name, but he does no harm although he is not to be trifled with. The theatre atmosphere settings of the Music Hall world of the 1890s (as found also in Chaplin's "Limelight") is wonderful and what will be the last thing you will forget about this film.
Music plays an important part here, it's practically only Chopin all the way, and at one instance Anthony Quinn performs an absolutely brilliant improvisation on the Nocturne opus 9:2. The action is fast throughout, and the blend between extremely different levels of society in the scandal problem produces an intrigue of lasting interest, growing more exciting all the time. Cedric Hardwicke makes a perfect lord of authority caring only about the particulars of a good name, but he does no harm although he is not to be trifled with. The theatre atmosphere settings of the Music Hall world of the 1890s (as found also in Chaplin's "Limelight") is wonderful and what will be the last thing you will forget about this film.
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