MovieChat Forums > The Women (1939) Discussion > Class not Gender

Class not Gender

posted 16 years ago by TheDuchessofM
6 replies | jump to latest

I recently watched this film after an interval of about two or three years and was left reeling by the end of the movie. Where before I found it to be a sharp look at relations between men and women, and between women and women, now I see it as more upper-class versus lower-class. I felt sorry for Crystal at the end of the movie instead of triumph because her gig was up. Even though she was portrayed as a man-eating bitch, Mary's bid to win back her husband ruined practically any chance Crystal had of moving up the social ladder. Certainly it was her own fault for cheating on Stephen, but still, the way Rosalind Russell's character was able to slip back into her class against Crystal was horrifying. She was a trouble-maker, but she spent the second half of the movie egging Crystal on in order to needle Norma Shearer's character, but the second there was a *beep* in Crystal's armor, she could jeer alongside the women of her social class despite being Crystal's "friend"! The lines were clearly drawn in the last frame; lower class women don't belong here, and that when a woman who married into their class made a misstep, she wouldn't have anyone to back her up because she's an interloper and "not one of us". That is the tragedy of The Women.

[–] HillieBoliday 16 years ago

I think Mary and the other "women" knew they couldn't trust Sylvia, and suffice
it to say although this was just a movie; I doubt seriously if Sylvia was
even accepted back into their little group anymore after her collaboration with
Crystal.

Crystal on the other hand did not belong, sans the class thing, simply because
she was a cold-hearted, back-stabbing, husband stealing bitch!

It wasn't like she was in love with Stephen, or he in love with her.
Crystal only wanted Stephen for his money and position; and Mary was
instrumental in giving that to her!

He would have never married Crystal, if Mary had not left!

Sylvia was giving up the "pea - ewe - $ - $ - why", and that is why
Stephen was with her.

Mary had not a clue as to how to get her husband back!

What she should have done, was use her social standing, to
ruin the reputation of Crystal, go ahead and spend the $225.00 on
that beautiful negligee; learn some new and exciting tricks in the
bedroom; draw some jungle red blood from Crystal's face with her fingernails and re-claim her man!!

"OOO...I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"

[–] karmala2 16 years ago

Well, don't forget that Marion Aarons (sp?) was present in that last frame you refer to. She was certainly NOT a part of their social class. Remember she came from the chorus?

And I didn't feel that stab of sympathy you felt for Crystal. She was just too poisonous. (I wish, though, that Sylvia had been run out of town on a rail. She was particularly malignant. To wit: "...whats-her-name who jumped out of a window. See, I can't even remember her name so who cares?" Wow, evil!)

But you make an interesting point.

"I told you a million times not to talk to me when I'm doing my lashes"!

[–] TheDuchessofM 16 years ago

Re: Miriam, that's why I said

when a woman who married into their class made a misstep, she wouldn't have anyone to back her up because she's an interloper and "not one of us".

Miriam would have married up, but probably would have played the game with the women of her new social class. Crystal had taken a leap into Park Avenue through adultery, but she didn't conform to the standards of a proper Park Avenue wife. If she'd waited a few years and softened her rough edges--played the milk and water miss instead of sinking her claws into her next potential husband--her extramarital relationship with Stephen could have been forgotten (particularly since Sylvia was her bosom-beau). Crystal didn't play the game or cement her status as the 2nd Mrs Stephen Haines by being a "nice" wife and more importantly, having a Haines child.

http://edwardianpromenade.com

[–] eskridge 16 years ago

You're perceptive in picking up the "class conflict" theme. Clare Boothe's play was all about that, sympathizing with the maids and saleswomen who had to serve the boorish idle-rich matrons. The movie plays down the conflict, but you can see it in the way the exercise instructor, for example, puts down Sylvia and Edith with insults under her breath, and even to their faces.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] noirgirl 14 years ago

It's not the "tragedy" of The Women, it's the reality of it.

Miriam was safely married, her husband cheated, she divorced him. She married Howard Fowler and apparently made him a good wife. So she wasn't a "bad girl". Crystal entrapped a married man, then cheated on him, and was the "bad girl".