The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
Broadway showgirl Evelyn Nesbit is the object of affection of two men: playboy architect Stanford White and the wealthy but unstable Harry Thaw. Nesbit marries Thaw, but White’s continued pursuit puts him in the path of Thaw’s volatile temper. A fictionalized account of true events that occurred at the turn of the 20th century.
Insights
Plot Summary
Millionaire Harry Thaw is obsessed with Evelyn Nesbit, a beautiful chorus girl. Thaw marries Evelyn, but his volatile temper and possessiveness soon cause problems. Evelyn becomes involved with the celebrated architect Stanford White, leading to a tragic love triangle and a sensational murder trial that captivated the nation.
Critical Reception
The film was met with mixed reviews. While some critics praised its historical reenactment and performances, others found its melodramatic tone and sensational subject matter to be overwrought. Audiences were divided, with some drawn to the salacious true-crime story and others put off by its dramatic intensity.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its attempt to dramatize a notorious historical scandal.
- Criticized for being overly melodramatic and sensationalist.
- Performances, particularly Joan Fontaine's, were noted as a highlight.
Google audience: Audience reception information for this film is not readily available through standard Google review aggregators.
Fun Fact
The film was based on the real-life murder of architect Stanford White by Harry Thaw, who was driven to jealousy by White's alleged affair with Thaw's young wife, Evelyn Nesbit. The sensational trial that followed became a major media event.
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