What a Woman! (film)
Encyclopedia
What a Woman! also known as The Beautiful Cheat is a 1943 black and white romantic comedy
movie starring Rosalind Russell
and Brian Aherne
. The movie revolves around a literary agent Carol Ainsley's trying to transform her star client, Michael Cobb, into the actor playing his most famous character. After it becomes obvious that it's impossible and he quits, Henry Pepper, a journalist writing a profile on the agent, calls him and convinces him that he's in love with Carol. Michael returns and the media embellishes their relationship constraining Carol to lead him on.
Although handsome and blonde, the professor is an intellectual snob immersed in Elizabethan literature, and consequently, is horrifed when he is exposed as the writer of a romance novel. While at Buxton, Carol gets Michael in trouble with the faculty and convinces him to accompany her to New York. There she takes over his life, arranging for lessons in comportment and charm. Michael is a failure at speaking the romantic words he wrote, however, and after his screen test proves a dismal failure, he decides to return to Buxton.
Henry, meanwhile, has become intrigued by Carol and has decided that she would be terrific if she developed her human side more. Intending to see if she has anything other than a dollar sign for a heart, Henry contacts Michael and convinces the professor that he is in love with Carol. While radiating the charm and assurance that Carol has taught him, Michael begins to court her. Their courtship becomes headline news, and although she is not in love with him, Carol is afraid to tell him the truth for fear that he might walk out on his contract.
Henry is thoroughly enjoying Carol's predicament until he kisses her and begins to fall in love with her himself. When Carol tries to trick Michael into going to Hollywood while she takes refuge at her father's house in Washington, D.C., Michael outsmarts her, follows her home and announces their engagement. Thus trapped, Carol agrees to the marriage.
On the eve of the wedding, the guests are socializing in the various rooms of the Ainsley house when Carol, angry at Henry for agreeing to be the best man, goes to his room to confront him. After Henry insults Carol and accuses her of being only a "ten percent woman," she slaps him, runs into the hallway and announces that she is calling off the wedding because she is not in love with Michael and refuses to be married just for the sake of business. Henry listens to her speech in admiration, and when she finishes, she rushes into his arms.
Rosalind Russell
... Carol Ainsley
Brian Aherne
... Henry Pepper
Willard Parker
... Prof. Michael 'Mike' Cobb
Alan Dinehart
... Pat O'Shea
Edward Fielding ... Sen. Howard Ainsley
Ann Savage ... Jane Hughes
Norma Varden
... Miss Timmons
Douglas Wood ... Dean Alfred B. Shaeffer
Grady Sutton
... Mr. Clark
Lilyan Irene ... Minna
Frank Dawson ... Ben
Hobart Cavanaugh
... Mailman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Isabel Withers
... Telephone Operator
Irving Bacon
... Newsman (uncredited)
Sven Hugo Borg
... Ricky (uncredited)
Barbara Brown ... Receptionist (uncredited)
Ken Carpenter ... Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Chester Clute
... Dormitory Clerk (uncredited)
Mary Currier ... Dean's Secretary (uncredited)
Hal K. Dawson ... Foster (uncredited)
Edward Earle
... Livingstone - Lawyer (uncredited)
Ed Emerson ... Reporter (uncredited)
Clyde Fillmore ... Dillon (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
... Miss Dawson (uncredited)
Mary Forbes
... Senator's Wife (uncredited)
Byron Foulger ... Buxton Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Gus Glassmire ... Professor (uncredited)
John Hamilton
... Senator (uncredited)
Russell Hicks ... Sutton (uncredited)
Gertrude Hoffman ... Night Maid (uncredited)
John Indrisano ... Gymnast (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson ... Bruce (uncredited)
Nelson Leigh
... Reporter (uncredited)
George Lessey
... Senator Hendricks (uncredited)
Doris Lloyd
... Drama Coach (uncredited)
Ann Loos ... Reporter (uncredited)
Robert Lowell ... Young Student (uncredited)
Charles Marsh ... Reporter (uncredited)
Edwin Mills ... Young Professor (uncredited)
Jack Rice
... Tailor (uncredited)
Shimen Ruskin ... Gadajalski (uncredited)
Ann Shoemaker ... Senator's Wife (uncredited)
Ferris Taylor
... Chris (uncredited)
Nella Walker ... Senator's Wife (uncredited)
Pierre Watkin ... Senator (uncredited)
Robert Williams ... Reporter (uncredited)
Shelley Winters
... Secretary (uncredited)
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
movie starring Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell was an American actress of stage and screen, perhaps best known for her role as a fast-talking newspaper reporter in the Howard Hawks screwball comedy His Girl Friday, as well as the role of Mame Dennis in the film Auntie Mame...
and Brian Aherne
Brian Aherne
Brian Aherne was a British actor of both stage and screen, who found success in Hollywood.-Early life and stage career:...
. The movie revolves around a literary agent Carol Ainsley's trying to transform her star client, Michael Cobb, into the actor playing his most famous character. After it becomes obvious that it's impossible and he quits, Henry Pepper, a journalist writing a profile on the agent, calls him and convinces him that he's in love with Carol. Michael returns and the media embellishes their relationship constraining Carol to lead him on.
Plot
Henry Pepper, top writer for Knickerbocker magazine, is assigned to write a profile on Carol Ainsley, who has been named the outstanding career woman of the year. Carol, a super agent and star-maker, has just scooped her competition by selling the movie rights to the romance novel Whirlwind and is spending a fortune to find the perfect actor to play the male lead. When Carol learns that the book's author, Anthony Street, may be the man to play his own hero, she searches him out and discovers that he is actually Professor Michael Cobb of Buxton College.Although handsome and blonde, the professor is an intellectual snob immersed in Elizabethan literature, and consequently, is horrifed when he is exposed as the writer of a romance novel. While at Buxton, Carol gets Michael in trouble with the faculty and convinces him to accompany her to New York. There she takes over his life, arranging for lessons in comportment and charm. Michael is a failure at speaking the romantic words he wrote, however, and after his screen test proves a dismal failure, he decides to return to Buxton.
Henry, meanwhile, has become intrigued by Carol and has decided that she would be terrific if she developed her human side more. Intending to see if she has anything other than a dollar sign for a heart, Henry contacts Michael and convinces the professor that he is in love with Carol. While radiating the charm and assurance that Carol has taught him, Michael begins to court her. Their courtship becomes headline news, and although she is not in love with him, Carol is afraid to tell him the truth for fear that he might walk out on his contract.
Henry is thoroughly enjoying Carol's predicament until he kisses her and begins to fall in love with her himself. When Carol tries to trick Michael into going to Hollywood while she takes refuge at her father's house in Washington, D.C., Michael outsmarts her, follows her home and announces their engagement. Thus trapped, Carol agrees to the marriage.
On the eve of the wedding, the guests are socializing in the various rooms of the Ainsley house when Carol, angry at Henry for agreeing to be the best man, goes to his room to confront him. After Henry insults Carol and accuses her of being only a "ten percent woman," she slaps him, runs into the hallway and announces that she is calling off the wedding because she is not in love with Michael and refuses to be married just for the sake of business. Henry listens to her speech in admiration, and when she finishes, she rushes into his arms.
Cast
In credits order:Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell was an American actress of stage and screen, perhaps best known for her role as a fast-talking newspaper reporter in the Howard Hawks screwball comedy His Girl Friday, as well as the role of Mame Dennis in the film Auntie Mame...
... Carol Ainsley
Brian Aherne
Brian Aherne
Brian Aherne was a British actor of both stage and screen, who found success in Hollywood.-Early life and stage career:...
... Henry Pepper
Willard Parker
Willard Parker
Willard Parker was an American film actor.He was born in New York City on 5 February 1912. He was earlier a tennis pro. Although he had some stage experience, he mainly appeared as a second lead in films from 1938. He was tall and had wavy hair...
... Prof. Michael 'Mike' Cobb
Alan Dinehart
Alan Dinehart
Alan Mason Dinehart was an American Broadway actor, director, writer, stage manager and later, a Character actor and supporting player featured in at least 88 films between 1931 and 1944...
... Pat O'Shea
Edward Fielding ... Sen. Howard Ainsley
Ann Savage ... Jane Hughes
Norma Varden
Norma Varden
Norma Varden was an English actress with a long film career in Hollywood.Born in London, the daughter of a retired sea-captain, Varden was a child prodigy. She trained as a concert pianist in Paris and performed in England before deciding to take up acting...
... Miss Timmons
Douglas Wood ... Dean Alfred B. Shaeffer
Grady Sutton
Grady Sutton
Grady Harwell Sutton was an American film and television actor from the 1920s to the 1970s.-Biography:Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Sutton was raised in Florida where he attended St. Petersburg High School. He began his career during the silent film era and made the transition to sound films...
... Mr. Clark
Lilyan Irene ... Minna
Frank Dawson ... Ben
Hobart Cavanaugh
Hobart Cavanaugh
Hobart Cavanaugh was an American character actor in films and on stage.Born in Virginia City, Nevada, Cavanaugh made his film debut in San Francisco Nights...
... Mailman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Isabel Withers
Isabel Withers
Isabel Withers was an American actress, who worked in theatre, film and television.-Theater:As a youth, Withers lived in Coffeyville, Kansas and Illinois. She attended school in Kansas City, Missouri....
... Telephone Operator
Irving Bacon
Irving Bacon
Irving Bacon was an American character actor who appeared in over 400 films. He played on the stage for a number of years before getting into films in 1920. Bacon was sometimes cast in films directed by his namesake Lloyd Bacon such as The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse...
... Newsman (uncredited)
Sven Hugo Borg
Sven Hugo Borg
-Biography:Sven Hugo Borg was born in Vinslöv, Skåne län, Sweden. Early in his career, Borg was a secretary with the Swedish Consulate in Los Angeles. While working at the consulate he met the actress Greta Garbo who had recently arrived in Hollywood. Garbo asked Borg to be her interpreter for an...
... Ricky (uncredited)
Barbara Brown ... Receptionist (uncredited)
Ken Carpenter ... Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Chester Clute
Chester Clute
Chester Clute , was an American actor familiar in scores of Hollywood films from his debut in 1930. Diminutive, bald-pated with a bristling moustache, he appeared in mostly unbilled roles, consisting usually of one or two lines, in nearly 250 films. He died of a heart attack aged 65...
... Dormitory Clerk (uncredited)
Mary Currier ... Dean's Secretary (uncredited)
Hal K. Dawson ... Foster (uncredited)
Edward Earle
Edward Earle
Edward Earle was a Canadian film actor. He appeared in almost 400 films between 1914 and 1956.He was born in Toronto and died in Los Angeles, California, aged 90.-Selected filmography:* The Purple Dress...
... Livingstone - Lawyer (uncredited)
Ed Emerson ... Reporter (uncredited)
Clyde Fillmore ... Dillon (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
Bess Flowers
Bess Flowers was an American actress. By some counts considered the most prolific actress in the history of Hollywood, she was known as "The Queen of the Hollywood Extras," appearing in over 700 movies in her 41 year career....
... Miss Dawson (uncredited)
Mary Forbes
Mary Forbes
Mary Forbes was an English film actress. She appeared in over 130 films between 1919 and 1958....
... Senator's Wife (uncredited)
Byron Foulger ... Buxton Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Gus Glassmire ... Professor (uncredited)
John Hamilton
John Hamilton (actor)
John Hamilton was an American actor, who appeared in many movies and television programs. He is probably best remembered for his role as the blustery newspaper editor Perry White on the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman.-Biography:Burly, stentorian-voiced John Hamilton was born John...
... Senator (uncredited)
Russell Hicks ... Sutton (uncredited)
Gertrude Hoffman ... Night Maid (uncredited)
John Indrisano ... Gymnast (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson ... Bruce (uncredited)
Nelson Leigh
Nelson Leigh
Nelson Leigh was a prolific motion picture actor of the 1940s and 1950s.-Career:...
... Reporter (uncredited)
George Lessey
George Lessey
George Lessey was an American actor and director of the silent era. He appeared in 123 films between 1910 and 1946. He also directed 76 films between 1913 and 1922. Lessey also appeared in the original Broadway production of Porgy and Bess in one of the few white roles, that of the lawyer Mr...
... Senator Hendricks (uncredited)
Doris Lloyd
Doris Lloyd
Hessy Doris Lloyd was an English actress.She appeared in over 150 films between 1920 and 1967, including the 1933 low-budget Monogram Pictures version of Oliver Twist, in which she played Nancy...
... Drama Coach (uncredited)
Ann Loos ... Reporter (uncredited)
Robert Lowell ... Young Student (uncredited)
Charles Marsh ... Reporter (uncredited)
Edwin Mills ... Young Professor (uncredited)
Jack Rice
Jack Rice
Jack Rice was an American actor best known for appearing as the scrounging, freeloading brother-in-law in Edgar Kennedy's series of short domestic comedy films at the RKO studios, and also as "Ollie" in around a dozen of Columbia film studio's series of the Blondie comic strip, which starred Penny...
... Tailor (uncredited)
Shimen Ruskin ... Gadajalski (uncredited)
Ann Shoemaker ... Senator's Wife (uncredited)
Ferris Taylor
Ferris Taylor
Ferris Taylor was an American film actor. He appeared in over 120 films between 1933 and 1958.He was born in Texas, and died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack.-Selected filmography:...
... Chris (uncredited)
Nella Walker ... Senator's Wife (uncredited)
Pierre Watkin ... Senator (uncredited)
Robert Williams ... Reporter (uncredited)
Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters was an American actress who appeared in dozens of films, as well as on stage and television; her career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2006...
... Secretary (uncredited)
Release History
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| USA | 28 December 1943 |
| Sweden | 29 July 1944 |
| Finland | 1 April 1945 |
| Portugal | 27 October 1945 |
| West Germany | 7 November 1980 |
External links
- What a Woman! at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...