(1937)
4
Hans J. Wollstein
Proving what a fine comedienne she could be when given half the chance, Kay Francis takes on the formidable Verree Teasdale in this well-appointed political satire. And Teasdale does make an awe-inspiring opponent. Based on a George S. Kaufman play, First Lady is a sort of "The Women Goes to Washington" with all the barbs intact, but blessedly sans any Capraesque sentimentality. Francis -- whose problem with the letter "r" is especially delightful in a comedy situation such as this -- comes out the winner in the end, of course, but Teasdale more than matches her in the quips department until defeated by what can only be described as a dirty trick. Yes, Francis gets down and dirty in the final scene and you cannot help feeling sorry for the fashionably gowned Verree, whose hopes of becoming the First Lady of the land are eventually and inevitably destroyed by the righteous Francis, who stoops to a bit of blackmail in order to achieve her goal. Reviewing the comedy for the New York Times, however, Frank S. Nugent steadfastly refused to concede and pronounced Verree Teasdale "First Lady of the Strand Theater" on the occasion of the film's December 23, 1937, New York premiere.
cast-crew for First Lady on AllMovie
First Lady (1937)
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