Evelyn Prentice

1934
Approved
1h 19m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Myrna Loy and William Powell in Evelyn Prentice (1934)

The neglected wife of a high profile attorney dallies with a unscrupulous womanizer and finds herself involved in blackmail and murder.The neglected wife of a high profile attorney dallies with a unscrupulous womanizer and finds herself involved in blackmail and murder.The neglected wife of a high profile attorney dallies with a unscrupulous womanizer and finds herself involved in blackmail and murder.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

1.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The third of 14 films pairing William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Goofs
When John is discussing the clues of the case in their living room, Evelyn puts her fists up to her cheeks. In the next angle, they are by her sides.

Quotes
John Prentice: A jury in doubt is a jury in the bag.

Alternate versions
There is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA srl, "L'AMANTE SCONOSCIUTA (1934) + THE THIN MAN (L'uomo ombra, 1934)" (2 Films on a single DVD), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.

Connections
Referenced in Double Wedding (1937)

Soundtracks
Wiegenlied (Lullaby) Op. 49 No. 4
(1868) (uncredited)
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Played when Myrna Loy discovers Cora Sue Collins asleep
Later played on piano by Collins and sung by her and William Powell

User reviews44

Review

Featured review

Style and substance

This is an absorbing, intelligent picture, bolstered by sensitive performances and adept handling of an adult story. Its fundamentals may be overly familiar, and perhaps a bit too much plot gets in the way of believable, touching characterizations. But you will care about the main characters, whose weaknesses and oversights lead them to the brink of ruin - even if (in a questionable decision by the film makers) they are given the trappings of art deco luxuries, instead of being brought closer to a lifestyle familiar to the audience.

Powell and Loy, alone and together, are fine, as always. Credit Isabel Jewell with a low-key, yet emotionally-charged performance. Jessie Ralph is excellent is one extended scene in which she babbles and equivocates as the tension builds to a quiet frenzy. Una Merkel softens her familiar screen mannerisms to play the character, rather than vice versa.

Not a well-known film, "Evelyn Prentice" is most definitely worth your while.