This week’s mystery movie was the 1934 MGM picture What Every Woman Knows, with Helen Hayes, Brian Aherne, Madge Evans, Lucile Watson, Dudley Digges, Donald Crisp, David Torrence and Henry Stephenson.
Screenplay by Monckton Hoffe, John Meehan and James K. McGuinness.
Musical score by Herbert Stothart.
Recording by Douglas Shearer.
Art direction by Cedric Gibbons, Landing Holden and Edwin B. Willis.
Gowns by Adrian. Photographed by Charles Rosher.
Edited by Blanche Sewell. Special effects by John Hoffman.
More information about What Every Woman Knows is available from the AFI Catalog.
What Every Woman Knows is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Videos.
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I picked What Every Woman Knows based on its review in Harrison’s Reports, figuring that I needed something more familiar after last week’s The Devil’s Cabaret.
At 1934, we could be at the tail end of the Mordaunt Hall era, or possibly early Bosley Crowther. I’m guessing that because What Every Woman Knows was adapted from a Broadway play, the New York Times critic will like it. Note that Hayes starred in the 1926 revival. The play debuted on Broadway in 1908 and was revived in 1946 and 1954 (again with Hayes).
Oops! Andre Sennwald gets the call! (Oct. 27, 1934):
Guided by Miss Hayes in her well-beloved imitation of the inconquerable Maggie, Sir James’ gallant though somewhat perverse salute to the hardier sex comes to the screen in a heart-warming and decidedly effective photoplay. Preserving a pious faith with the wry humor and the tenderness of the original, the new film captures the spiritual equivalent of the gorse and heather, as well as the dry bite of Barrie wit. In addition to the lustre of Miss Hayes’ performance, it is notably acted by Brian Aherne, and it is played by Dudley Digges, David Torrence and Donald Crisp, as the trio of embattled Wylies, with a Scottish truculence which is immensely engaging.This What Every Woman Knows is a wise and crusty sentimental comedy with a Scottish burr which crackles through the dialogue and is almost if not quite as thick as John Shand’s skull.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Lucile Watson.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery fellow.
Update: This is Dudley Digges.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Robert Morrissey (Monday’s mystery guest), Dan (Monday’s mystery guest), Anne Papineau (Monday’s mystery guest), Normadesmond (Monday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Monday’s mystery guest), Jenny M. (Monday’s mystery guest), Sheila (Monday’s mystery guest), Mary Mallory (Monday’s mystery guest), Sylvia E. (Monday’s mystery guest) and Megan and Thom (Monday’s mystery guest).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a duo of mystery guests.
Update: This is David Torrence, left, and Donald Crisp.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery fellow), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery fellow), Beach Gal (mystery movie and both mystery guests) and Jenny M. (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery guest).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious woman.
Update: This is Madge Evans.
We also have a mysterious gentleman.
Update: This is Donald Meek.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery gent No. 2), Beach Gal (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Blackwing Jenny (Wednesday’s mystery guest no. 2), Dan Nather (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests, plus mystery woman off screen) and Megan and Thom (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
For Friday, we have our mystery leads.
Update: This is Brian Aherne and Helen Hayes.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Benito (Wednesday’s mystery guest No. 2 and Thursday’s mystery guest No. 2), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Beach Gal (Thursday’s mystery guests), Incredible Inman (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery guest, Wednesday’s mystery guest No. 2 and Thursday’s mystery guest No. 2), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Lucile Watson in WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS (1934)
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That’s Lucile Watson, and it looks fairly early in her movie career.
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Lucile Watson
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Lucile Watson
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Is that Lucile Watson?
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Lucile Watson.
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Lucile Watson
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Lucile Watson?
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Lucile Watson.
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Just for grins, I’m going to guess Lucile Watson. I think the hat is luring me in that direction. She did wear a lot of hats in her movies.
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BISHOP MISBEHAVES.
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Dudley Digges.
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Our mystery guest is Lucile Watson.
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Dudley Digges, WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS.
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Monday is Lucille Watson
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Tues is Dudley Digges. Our film is What Every Woman Knows.
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Dudley Digges in What Every Woman Knows.
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Hyacinth Bucket (bouquet) In Richard Needs a Shave.
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David Torrence and Donald Crisp.
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Is Tuesday’s guy Frank Orth? If so I’ll guess “Florian” 1940. I think Mr Orth was recently one of our mystery guests.
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David Torrence, Donald Crisp.
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Dudley Digges, David Torrence and Donald Crisp in WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS.
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Donald Crisp is amused by What Every Woman Knows.
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Wed – Donald Crisp and David Torrence
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Donald Crisp?
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I think i have it now — WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS (1934), based on the J. M. Barrie play.
Monday — Lucile Watson
Tuesday — Dudley Digges
Wednesday — David Torrence and Donald Crisp
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Aha! “What Every Woman Knows” 1934 (in one way or another, we’ve visited Ms Helen Hayes a lot recently) Anyway:
Monday – Lucile Watson
Tuesday – Dudley Digges
Wednesday – David Torrence and Donald Crisp (with Ms Hayes OS at the fireplace)
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Interesting for me to learn that director, Gregory La Cava was a cartoonist/animator before shifting to live action movies.
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Our mystery movie is What Every Woman Knows with Donald Crisp and David Torrence for today.
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Madge Evans and Donald Meek. Sorry there’s no Henry Stephenson.
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Definitely Donald Meek, and possibly Donald Crisp today
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Another Donald-Meek! and Madge Evans? in “What Every Woman Knows”.
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Thurs – Madge Evans
Thurs – Donald Meek
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Lucile Watson on Monday, Donald Crisp yesterday and Donald Meek today. I think this is “What Every Woman Knows.”
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Madge Evans; Donald Meek.
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Madge Evans and Donald Meek.
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Thursday – 1) Madge Evans 2) Donald Meek
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Brian Aherne and Helen Hayes.
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Fri – Brian Aherne and Helen Hayes
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For Thursday: Madge Evans and Donald Meek.
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And today: Brian Aherne and Helen Hayes.
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Brian Aherne and Helen Hayes.
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Brian Aherne and Helen Hayes on Friday.
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Helen Hayes, Brian Aherne.
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