He Knew Women

He Knew Women is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film, directed by Hugh Herbert, from a screenplay by him and William B. Jutte, which was adapted from S. N. Behrman's 1927 play The Second Man. It starred Lowell Sherman and Alice Joyce, in her second to last film role. The film broke even.[3]

He Knew Women
Film poster
Directed byHugh Herbert
Produced byWilliam Le Baron
Myles Connolly (associate)[1]
Written byWilliam B. Jutte
Hugh Herbert[1]
Based onthe play The Second Man
by S. N. Behrman[2]
StarringLowell Sherman
Alice Joyce[1]
CinematographyEdward Cronjager[1]
Edited byAnn McKnight
George Marsh[1]
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures[1]
Release date
  • April 18, 1930 (1930-04-18) (Premiere-New York City)[1]
  • May 18, 1930 (1930-05-18) (US)[1]
Running time
65 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$103,000[3]
Box office$193,000[3]

Plot

Geoffrey Clarke is a poor poet, who has his eyes on the fortune of a rich widow, Alice Frayne, in order to keep him in the lifestyle he feels he deserves. Geoffrey is pursued, however, by the young and lovely, yet poor, Monica Grey. Monica, in turn, is pursued by the chemist, Austin Lowe.

When Geoffrey tells Monica that she would be better off with Austin, she is disdainful of the suggestion. Undaunted, he sets the two of them up to have dinner at Geoffrey's apartment. During the dinner, Monica is completely unimpressed with Austin, but when she discovers that Alice has been financially supporting Geoffrey, out of spite she agrees to marry Austin. Regretting her decision, later, when she learns that Alice intends to marry Geoffrey, Monica becomes desperate and falsely accuses Geoffrey in front of the others of having ruined her. This causes Alice to break off her engagement with Geoffrey. However, it has a drastic effect on Austin, who gets a pistol and takes a very poorly aimed shot at Geoffrey. Standing up for her honor causes Monica to re-evaluate her feelings for Austin, and she agrees, this time for real, to marry him. When the falsity of Monica's claim is revealed, Geoffrey and Alice reconcile as well.

Cast

(cast list as per the AFI database)[1]

Reception

Variety gave the film a positive review, complimenting the direction of Herbert, as well as the acting of Sherman and Dade, and saying of the overall production: "This is virtually a four-character picture and as near a play transcription for the screen as has been done. Despite all that and the four walls set up around the action, it holds the interest reasonably well, providing a few outstanding kicks."[4]

Notes

S. N. Behrman's play, The Second Man, on which this screenplay is based, played from April through September in 1927 at The Guild Theater. It starred Lynn Fontanne and her husband, Alfred Lunt, the Tony Award winning Lunt and Fontanne duo.[5]

A copy of this film is kept at the Library of Congress.[4]

References
  1. "He Knew Women: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  2. "He Knew Women: Overview". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014.
  3. Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931-1951', Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p56
  4. "He Knew Women". Stanford University. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  5. "The Second Man". ibdb.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
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