On S List of Movie Reviews
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Satan Met a Lady (1936)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
10/17
10/17:
Although a loose remake with many coincidences, Satan Met a Lady is much better and more well-acted than the 1931
version of The Maltese Falcon.
Warren William's performance is impressive, and Marie Wilson is excellent as the ditzy
secretary. Once upon a time, Bette Davis was beautiful and could match Warren William line for line in every
scene. But this time, he's overpoweringly good and has a way with words with such fluidity.
Unfortunately, the film was trashed by critics, and Bette Davis hated it so much that she said: "I was
so distressed by the whole tone of the script and the vapidity of my part that I marched up to Mr. Warner's office and demanded
that I be given work that was commensurate with my proven ability." She would leave Warner Brothers after two more
pictures including one that had her playing a lumberjack, but she came back anyway.
Showing no trace of anything that can be construed as outdated, Satan Met a Lady is charming and fast-paced in a
film noir manner. I was surprised at how much I got into it after being disappointed with
The Maltese Falcon.
All in all, thanks to Warren William, Satan Met a Lady is an over-the-top fun movie.