This week’s mystery movie was the 1951 MGM picture “The Law and the Lady,” with Greer Garson, Michael Wilding, Fernando Lamas, Marjorie Main, Hayden Rorke, Margalo Gillmore, Ralph Dumke, Rhys Williams and Natalie Schafer.
Screenplay by Leonard Spigelgass and Karl Tunberg, based on the play “The Last of Mrs. Cheyney” by Frederick Lonsdale. Photography by George J. Folsey, art direction by Cedric Gibbons and Daniel B. Cathcard, editing by James E. Newcom and William Gulick, music by Carmen Dragon, recording by Douglas Shearer, set decoration by Edwin B. Willis and Jack D. Moore, special effects by Warren Newcombe, women’s costumes by Walter Plunkett, men’s costumes by Gile Steele, hairstyles by Sydney Guilaroff and makeup by William Tuttle. Produced and directed by Edwin H. Knopf.
“The Law and the Lady” is available on DVD from Warner Archive.
This is a remake of the recent mystery movie “The Last of Mrs. Cheyney.” The 1937 version with Joan Crawford, William Powell and Robert Montgomery just aired on TCM, so I skipped ahead to “The Law and the Lady,” which draws from the play in some ways, but makes numerous alterations and additions.
Writing in the New York Times (Aug. 16, 1951), A.W. said:
Frederick Lonsdale’s romantic melodrama, “The Last of Mrs. Cheyney,” first drew plaudits in the theatre in 1925. Since then, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has seen fit to film it twice, in 1929 and in 1937. Now, the company, apparently convinced that the property is durable, has revived it a third time under the title, “The Law and the Lady.” Metro, to put matters in a nutshell, does not have the sturdy offering one would imagine. For the vehicle, which began a stand at the Capitol yesterday, is a slow one. And the barbed and witty lines of the author seem to have lost their gaiety and brilliance through the script of Leonard Spigelgass and Karl Tunberg.
Mrs. Lonsdale’s format was a pleasing one. His idea of pairing a ne’er-do-well British gentleman and a bright, beautiful but low-born lady in a career of genteel crime is still intriguing. But the cheerful expectancy with which one awaits the unfolding of the plot once he notes the forward – “it is the turn of the century — if they would have known what was ahead they would have never turned it” — is considerably dampened by what ensues.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman. I suppose this goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: She does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Soledad Jimenez.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman. She disapproves of such goings-on to a remarkable degree. (Note: I had to crop out our leading man due to his lack of mysteriousness. He will appear Friday.)
Update: This is Phyllis Stanley.
For Wednesday, we have guests with varying degrees of mysteriousness. Also varying degrees of disapproval of such goings-on.
Update: This is Natalie Schafer (yes, Lovey from “Gilligan’s Island”), Margalo Gillmore, Ralph Dumke and in the background Aen-Ling Chow.
For Thursday, we have a woman who is severely lacking in mysteriousness.
Update: This is Marjorie Main.
Also for Thursday, we have a similarly mystery-impaired gent. The leading man has been cropped out as he has no mysteriousness whatsoever. He will appear on Friday.
Update: This is Hayden Rorke before “I Dream of Jeannie.”
Brain Trust roll call: Thom and Megan (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests, and Wednesday’s mystery woman before TV catapulted her to fame), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (Wednesday’s mystery woman before TV catapulted her to fame), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery woman before TV catapulted her to fame), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast) and Benito (Wednesday’s mystery woman before TV catapulted her to fame).
For Friday, our non-mysterious leading lady gazes into the mirror.
Update: This is Greer Garson.
Our non-mystery woman has an unmysterious companion.
Update: This is Greer Garson and Fernando Lamas.
Oh my. Our non-mystery woman has another unmysterious companion. Such goings-on!
Update: This is Greer Garson and Michael Wilding.
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and mystery guests), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie and mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests), Gary (Thursday’s mystery woman), Benito (mystery movie), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and mystery guests) and Charles Kjelland (Thursday’s mystery woman).
ladailymirror.com 
Kate Drain Lawson.
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An interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Lionel Barrymore.
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Alas, this is not ‘Devil Doll.’ But an excellent guess!
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Leopoldine Kostantin.
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A good guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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I never know who it is, but their disapproval I can always count on …
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I’ve come to the opinion that movies are primarily about people who do not approve of such goings-on. They are everywhere.
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Hmmm….
Maria Ouspenskaya was my first thought, but looking again, I know it’s not her – rather, she’s an “Ouspenskaya-type”. Back to thinking some more.
Wonder if this is a WB film.
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Indeed, it is not. 🙂
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The first title that popped into my head when I saw the photo was “The Beast With Five Fingers” with Peter Lorre.
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An interesting guess. But alas….
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I assume Monday is not William Demarest but Tuesday Might be Ida Lupino.
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There is a strong resemblance. But, alas, Ida is more of a Friday than a Tuesday.
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Sally Forrest.
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An interesting guess. But, alas…
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Tuesday’s lass is Deborah Kerr-esque, but Deborah does not qualify to be a Tuesday mystery soul. Even I realize this.
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Yes, indeed.
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One of today’s guests is Natalie Schafer in The Law and the Lady. Our other guests are Soledad Jimenez for Monday and Phyllis Stanley for Tuesday, I think. (Ms. Stanley’s IMDB picture is…interesting.)
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THE LAW AND THE LADY (1951)
Monday: Soledad Jimenez
Tuesday: Phyllis Stanley
Wednesday: Aen-Ling Chow, Ralph Dumke, Natalie Schafer, Margalo Gillmore
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Elsie …uhhh…
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For Wednesday, Ralph Dumke and Natalie Schafer in ‘The Law and the Lady’?
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Natalie Schafer in a dream sequence on Gilligan’s Island..
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Natalie Schafer on Wednesday?
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The Law and the Lady (1951) w/Greer Garson, Michael Wilding, Fernando Lamas, Rhys Williams, Natalie Schafer, Marjorie Main, …
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Natalie Schaefer today, pre-Gilligan
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“The Law and the Lady”
Soledad Jimenez, Phyllis Stanley, Natalie Schafer, Marjorie Main, Hayden Rorke,
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Natalie Schafer from Wednesday and then Marjorie Main and Hayden Rorke. THE LAW AND THE LADY.
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The new mystery photos came up, though there wasn’t an extra + at the top. THE LAW AND THE LADY. Soledad Jimenez Monday, Phyllis Stanley Tuesday, Natalie Schafer, Margalo Gillmore Wednesday, and Marjorie Main and Hayden Rorke today.
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The movie is The Law and the Lady. Monday: Soledad Jimenez?, Tuesday: Phyllis Stanley, Wed.: Aen-Ling Chow?, Ralph Dumke, Natalie Schafer, Margalo Gillmore, Thursday: Marjorie Main and Hayden Rorke
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Marjorie Main, Hayden Rorke.
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Marjorie Main and Hayden Rorke in “The Law and the Lady”
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And Soledad Jiminez from Monday.
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Marjorie Main in what looks to be Heaven Can Wait but that was in color and I know your high standards . So…
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Guessing THE LAW AND THE LADY 1951. A fine cast
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Ha! I looked up this film yesterday because of Natalie Schafer, but let myself be talked out of it for some reason I don’t remember.
Anyway, the movie is The Law and the Lady 1951
Mon. – Soledad Jimenez (I think)
Tues. – Phyllis Stanley (I think)
Weds. – Natalie Schafer and Margalo Gillmore on the sofa, Rhys Williams looking down at them and I think Aen Ling Chow is the maid.
Thurs. – Marjorie Main (our ‘all a-fluff’ dowager) and Hayden Rorke in image #2
Friday will bring Greer Garson, Michael Wilding and (maybe) Fernando Lamas
Fun puzzle
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Spring Byington Wednesday, Marjorie Main today.
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Greer Garson with Fernando (I look fabulous) Lamas and Michael (Mr. Elizabeth Taylor) Wilding.
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Greer Garson, Fernando Lamas, and Michael Wilding
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Greer Garson, Fernando Lamas, Michael Wilding.
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Law and the Lady. I wasn’t sure if that was Greer Garson or Rosalind Russell. Fernando and Michael and Natalie Schaeffer who I always think is Elsie whatshername., wife of the back of the head guy.
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Greer, Fernando and Mr. Wilding are now on view.
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Last, but not least… Greer Garson, Fernando Lamas, and Michael Wilding.
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Marjorie Main on Thursday?
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