The Devil and Miss Jones (VHS, 1988)

06/11/06
In this sparkling comedy, one can see why Jean Arthur is the most nominated actress in the American Film Institute's "Cheers" Broadcast this week. Playing the Miss Jones in question, she is as we have seen her in so many wonderful films: "Mr Smith Goes to Washington," "Mr Deeds Goes to Town," and "Talk of the Town." Playing plucky, smart, and inspirational heroines, she may be the most unfairly under-rated comic actress of her day. In the film she is an employee of a Department Store owned by the Devil in question, played by Charles Coburn, the always on-target character actor who defined the "gruff and blustering comic middle aged man" role in the 40s and 50s. {Except in "King's Row" in his equally great, albeit creepy, role as an evil doctor.)

The dramatic circumstance is a step above the usual comic fare. There is a strike a'brewing in the department store and Coburn decides to become a undercover slipper clerk to smoke out the malcontents. Arthur, along with her boyfriend played by Bob Cummings, are, of course, at the core of the labor unrest. Think "The Christmas Carol," with equal amounts of Hollywood socialism and sentimentality, shaken with screwball comedy and served with a stirring defense of free speech and justice done.

The look of the film is superb, with many impressive, deep focus shots. Cinematographer Harry Stradling sandwiched this film between shooting two Hitchcock films and the visual values are much higher than the average comedy. William Cameron Menzies, best known for "Gone with the Wind" did the magnificent production design and one sees echoes here of his architecturally rich work on "Things to Come." The Art Design is by Oscar nominated Van Nest Polglase who did "Citizen Kane" at the same time as this film and did the Art Deco gem, "Top Hat" just a few years earlier and one sees the influence of this bold hand in the department store shots. Hollywood workhorse costume designer "Irene" dresses Arthur in striking professional women's wear and one architectonic swimming suit. The crackling smart and witty dialogue is by Norman Krasna. If you get the chance,compare this film to Hitchcock's "Mr and Miss Smith," made earlier in 1941 by RKO as well and which included all of the above crew and production members.

Coburn's spot on comic timing and Arthur's wide-eyed enthusiasm are aided by Edmund Gwenn who plays the head of the Shoe Department and quite opposite his kindly identity as Kris Kringle in "Miracle on 34th Street". Gwenn, as a petty tyrant who quickly makes it clear to Coburn why all the employees are so unhappy, is a model of ugly, white flower officiousness. SZ "Cuddles" Sakall, who we know as the waiter in "Casablanca," made a year later, is at his face-slapping flustered best as Coburn's butler and chief graham cracker crumbler. Sakall, in the same year as "The Devil..." made "Ball of Fire" with Barbara Stanwyck and two other films, a pace he kept for the rest of his life. The equally bankable Spring Byington plays Coburn's love interest and vetran character actors William Demarest, Reegis Toomey, Montague Love, and Pat Flahtery make for a rich, wonderful and warm comedy.

Finally and so you are careful, it is the "Devil AND Miss Jones," not the grim, dantesque X rated "Devil in Miss Jones."