A Woman of Distinction
A Woman of Distinction

Movie spotlight

A Woman of Distinction

1950
Movie
85 min
English

Ice-cold college dean Susan Middlecott feels there's no room in her life for romance. Enter Prof. Alec Stevenson, British lecturer on astronomy, touring North America and in possession of a keepsake of Susan's he wants to return. Desperate for publicity, lecture bureau press agent Teddy Evans magnifies this into a great romance. The efforts of both dignified principals to quash the story have the opposite effect; matters get more and more involved.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Director: Ernst LubitschGenres: Comedy, Romance

Plot Summary

Crystal Allen, a glamorous and ambitious businesswoman, finds her life complicated by the arrival of her college friend, Susan Gallagher, and Susan's husband, Mark. While Susan struggles with her marriage and career, Crystal navigates her own romantic entanglements and business dealings, often with humorous and dramatic consequences. The film explores themes of career versus personal life, and the complexities of female ambition in the mid-20th century.

Critical Reception

Upon its release, 'A Woman of Distinction' received a mixed reception from critics. While some praised Joan Crawford's performance and the film's stylish direction, others found the plot to be somewhat formulaic and lacking the sharp wit of Lubitsch's earlier works. Audience reception was generally positive, appreciating the star power and the romantic comedy elements.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for Joan Crawford's star presence and undeniable screen appeal.

  • The direction by Ernst Lubitsch, though stylish, was sometimes seen as less incisive than his previous comedies.

  • The romantic plot and business intrigue were found to be engaging, though predictable by some.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this specific film is not readily available.

Fun Fact

Despite Ernst Lubitsch being known for his sophisticated comedies, 'A Woman of Distinction' was one of his later films and some critics felt it didn't quite reach the comedic heights of his earlier work, such as 'The Shop Around the Corner' or 'Trouble in Paradise'.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

There is quite a bit of chemistry here between Ray Milland's "Prof. Stevenson" - a British astronomy geek somewhat reluctantly doing the lecture tour rounds in the US of A; and the stiff-as-starch college dean "Susan" (Rosalind Russell). Th...