Joan Crawford's version of The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937) was the second of three MGM screen treatments of Frederick Lonsdale's stage comedy about a chic American jewel thief in London. The play had originated in London in 1925 and was produced later the same year in New York City with Helen Hayes in the leading role. The American production ran for 385 performances. Norma Shearer enjoyed a success in the first film version, released in 1929. The second MGM remake, entitled The Law and the Lady and released in 1951, starred Greer Garson. A German version called Frau Cheyney's Ende was released in 1961.

As the widowed Fay Cheyney, Crawford charms her way into London society for the purpose of relieving British socialites of their baubles. William Powell plays her partner in crime, a supposed butler called Charles, and Robert Montgomery is Lord Dilling, a young nobleman who dallies with Fay while working his own angles. When Fay is revealed as a thief, she finds an ingenious way of wriggling out of her difficulties.

Myrna Loy was originally scheduled to play Mrs. Cheyney, while Crawford had been set for Parnell, opposite Clark Gable. After Crawford experienced "creative differences" with Parnell director John M. Stahl, the two actresses exchanged roles.

Tragedy struck this production of Mrs. Cheyney when its director, Richard Boleslawski, died of a heart attack midway through filming. When his replacement, George Fitzmaurice, also fell ill, Dorothy Arzner -- one of the very few female directors in the days of the Hollywood studio system -- stepped in to complete the movie. Arzner's efforts led to a contract with MGM, although she directed only one more film there: another Crawford vehicle, The Bride Wore Red (1937). Crawford and Arzner had gotten along well during Mrs. Cheyney, but their relationship on the follow-up film was so strained that they eventually communicated only through written messages delivered by a third party, MGM publicist Maxine Thomas.

Powell, a master of the drawing-room style, took the acting honors for The Last of Mrs. Cheyney, but Crawford did receive some good notices for her uncharacteristic effort at high-style comedy. She was at a turning point in her MGM career, being dubbed "First Queen of the Movies" by Life magazine in 1937 but about to be named the following year as "box office poison" by motion picture exhibitors.

Producer: Lawrence Weingarten
Director: Richard Boleslawski, George Fitzmaurice (uncredited), Dorothy Arzner (uncredited)
Screenplay: Leon Gordon, Samson Raphaelson, Monckton Hoffe, George Oppenheimer (uncredited), from play by Frederick Lonsdale
Cinematography: George Folsey
Editing: Frank Sullivan
Original Music: Dr. William Axt
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons
Costume Design: Adrian
Cast: Joan Crawford (Mrs. Fay Cheyney), William Powell (Charles), Robert Montgomery (Lord Arthur Dilling), Frank Morgan (Lord Francis Kelton), Jessie Ralph (The Duchess of Ebley), Nigel Bruce (Lord Willie Winton), Benita Hume (Lady Kitty Winton).
BW-99m. Closed captioning.

by Roger Fristoe