The Lady Eve (1941)

After devoting a year to studying snakes in the dense heart of the Amazon, the guileless ophidiologist, Charles Pike - heir to a Connecticut brewery fortune - embarks on a transatlantic voyage back to the United States. His wealth paints a tempting target for gold diggers, drawing the attention of a cunning trio of swindlers: Jean Harrington, her father "Colonel" Harrington, and their accomplice, Gerald. They weave a web of deception around Charles, with Jean at the center, whose beauty and charm bewitch the unsuspecting millionaire. But in the midst of their con, the unexpected happens - Jean finds herself genuinely falling for Charles, prompting her to abandon their scheme. However, Charles's vigilant bodyguard, Muggsy, uncovers Jean's true identity as a con artist, leaving Charles disillusioned and heartbroken. Jean, hurt and seeking retribution, hatches a new plot when the swindlers cross paths with their high-society friend, "Sir" Alfred McGlennan Keith, at a New York horse race. Armed with the knowledge of "Sir" Alfred’s standing in Connecticut's elite circles, Jean adopts the persona of the refined British noble, Lady Eve. She infiltrates the world of her scorned lover by posing as a guest at her fictitious 'aunt's' house. A grand party thrown by Mr. Pike sets the stage for the transformed Jean, now Lady Eve, to ensnare Charles once again. As the seemingly sophisticated Lady Eve, Jean seduces Charles, who is blissfully unaware of his suitor's true identity. But behind her facade, Jean's motives are driven by a thirst for vengeance rather than love. Thus, the stage is set for a tale of deception, love, and revenge, where the boundaries between the con and the heart become dangerously blurred.

The Lady Eve is a comedy movie featuring Barbara Stanwyck and directed by Preston Sturges.

The Lady Eve is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

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