The Law and the Lady (film)
| The Law and the Lady | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Edwin H. Knopf |
| Produced by | Edwin H. Knopf |
| Based on | The Last of Mrs. Cheyney by Frederick Lonsdale |
| Starring |
Greer Garson Fernando Lamas Michael Wilding |
| Music by | Carmen Dragon |
| Cinematography | George J. Folsey |
| Edited by |
William B. Gulick James E. Newcom |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
|
Release date
|
20 July 1951 |
|
Running time
|
104 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,193,000 |
| Box office | $1,360,000 |
The Law and the Lady (1951) is an American comedy film directed by Edwin H. Knopf, starring Greer Garson, Michael Wilding and Fernando Lamas, and based on the play The Last of Mrs. Cheyney by Frederick Lonsdale. The film is not related to the Wilkie Collins novel The Law and the Lady.
Jane Hoskins (Garson) has worked most of her life as a lady's maid, and is currently employed by Lord Minden and his haughty wife Lady Sybil Minden. Lord Minden's younger twin brother, The Honourable Nigel Duxbury (Wilding) received only ten thousand pounds to his brother's five million because his brother was born five minutes before him and is therefore seen as being the elder sibling in the eyes of the law. Having squandered his money, Nigel sneaks into his brother's home and steals Lady Minden's earrings. Lady Minden accuses her maid Jane of the theft until Nigel steps forward and claims responsibility. Jane is angry at being wrongly accused of theft by her employer and decides to quit her job and make her way into high society.
Nigel is impressed by Jane's attitude and, after securing the earrings in return for never bothering his brother again, he offers to take Jane out for an evening of fine dining. Together they unintentionally con a wealthy gentleman into believing that Jane is a wealthy widow, the Lady Lovely, and that she collects donations for a fictional Egyptian charity called The Nile Fund. At the end of the night, one hundred pounds wealthier, Jane makes a business arrangement with Nigel that the two of them should work together as confidence tricksters.
Jane and Nigel travel to Monte Carlo, San Remo and Shanghai, where they cheat at gambling and are repeatedly asked by the authorities to leave the country. Eventually they make their way to San Francisco, where Nigel suggests they move into jewellery theft. Nigel gets himself a job as a butler named Hoskins in the house of society queen Julia Wortin (Marjorie Main), and Jane befriends Mrs Wortin and is invited to the house as a guest. The two plan to lift Julia's diamond necklace during their stay.
Julia throws a party in Jane's honour and her exotic neighbor Juan (Lamas) begins to woo Jane. Jane becomes somewhat swept off her feet at Juan's attentions to her, causing Nigel to become jealous. On the first night of her stay, Jane locates Julia's safe and the necklace, but is touched by the lady's kindness towards her and has second thoughts about their plan, so she does not go through with it. The following day Jane receives a proposal from Juan and decides to accept. Jane and Nigel argue about Jane's decision, and although they share a kiss, they are reluctant to admit their feelings for one another, having long ago agreed that theirs was a strictly business relationship.
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