| The Law and the Lady | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Edwin H. Knopf |
| Screenplay by | Leonard Spigelgass Karl Tunberg |
| Based on | The Last of Mrs. Cheyney 1925 play by Frederick Lonsdale |
| Produced by | Edwin H. Knopf |
| Starring | Greer Garson Fernando Lamas Michael Wilding |
| Cinematography | George J. Folsey |
| Edited by | William B. Gulick James E. Newcom |
| Music by | Carmen Dragon |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
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Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,193,000[1] |
| Box office | $1,360,000[1] |
The Law and the Lady is a 1951 American comedy film directed by Edwin H. Knopf and starring Greer Garson, Michael Wilding (as twin brothers) and Fernando Lamas. It is not related to the Wilkie Collins novel The Law and the Lady. Very loosely based on the 1925 play The Last of Mrs. Cheyney by Frederick Lonsdale,[2] the action is transferred to the turn of the century, the names are all changed, and the first half of the film shows the history of the two thieves. Previous film versions of the story, made in 1929, starring Norma Shearer, and 1937, starring Joan Crawford, retained the play's contemporary setting, included a crew of confederates, and opened with Mrs. Cheyney as an established figure in society.[3] This film also ends differently from the play, with the partners in crime ending as romantic partners but going back to England to face the music for their very first swindle. In the play and in the two other films, Charles leaves and Mrs. Cheyney accepts Lord Dilling, who kisses her and declares: “That's the Last of Mrs. Cheyney!”
- ^ a b The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- ^ BFI Database entry
- ^ TCM.com's Notes section on The Law and the Lady says that in the two earlier film “Mrs. Cheyney” acts alone. This is a mistake.