In the very aptly titled Smart Woman, Mary Astor plays a woman forced to play games when her husband strays and falls in love with another woman. It's based off the Broadway play Nancy's Private Affair, and while I couldn't find anything that linked it to Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, the entire time I was watching the 1931 film adaptation, I kept hearing "A Weekend in the Country" playing in my head.
When Mary's husband, Robert Ames, falls in love with Noel Francis, Mary's utterly destroyed. Her sister- and brother-in-law, Ruth Weston and Edward Everett Horton, convince her that the only way to win back her husband's love is to pretend she's relieved by the situation because she's fallen in love with another man. Before they know it, Mary's invited Noel and her mother, Gladys Gale, down to their country home for the weekend, as well as her in-laws, and the fake boyfriend she's invented, John Halliday. And while you're busy singing Stephen Sondheim's music, everyone's falling in love with everyone and trying to sort out their very messy situation!
All in all, Smart Woman is a cute movie with only one tiny flaw. Robert Ames's character isn't worth all the trouble! He's not very nice and he doesn't treat people very well. Still, if you're a Mary Astor fan, rent this one.
When Mary's husband, Robert Ames, falls in love with Noel Francis, Mary's utterly destroyed. Her sister- and brother-in-law, Ruth Weston and Edward Everett Horton, convince her that the only way to win back her husband's love is to pretend she's relieved by the situation because she's fallen in love with another man. Before they know it, Mary's invited Noel and her mother, Gladys Gale, down to their country home for the weekend, as well as her in-laws, and the fake boyfriend she's invented, John Halliday. And while you're busy singing Stephen Sondheim's music, everyone's falling in love with everyone and trying to sort out their very messy situation!
All in all, Smart Woman is a cute movie with only one tiny flaw. Robert Ames's character isn't worth all the trouble! He's not very nice and he doesn't treat people very well. Still, if you're a Mary Astor fan, rent this one.