Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

SimonJack "Evelyn Prentice" is a different film in more ways than one. It's the only real heavy drama piece of the more than dozen movies that William Powell and Myrna Loy made together. And, it's the only one in which Loy's character was the bigger role. She performs it marvelously. It's also out of the character of the Thin Man series and most of the rest of the Powell-Loy pairings which were comedy-crime films or genuine mysteries. IMDb lists this as a drama, mystery and romance. It's a mystery in which the audience in let in on most of the goings-on. So much so, that one can guess the outcome without too much difficulty. So, it doesn't' rank up there with the good mysteries of the period or with the very clever and intriguing Agatha Christie whodunits. But this film has something else that I haven't noticed anyone else comment about. Many call it a romance, but it's more than that. The plot involves a couple – Powell and Loy, who play John and Evelyn Prentice, who are very much in love with each other. Viewers will be quick to notice the workaholic in John, and the developing martyrdom persona of Evelyn. But one very different thing that I noticed about the film was the role of Evelyn's friend, Amy Drexel, played very well by Una Merkel. Some friend! She know that John and Evelyn are deeply in love. Yet, when she sees a handsome man (Lawrence Kennard played by Harvey Stephens) show interest in Evelyn, she encourages Evelyn to see him. We know of Evelyn's true love for John because of her apprehensions and decisions to end her innocent meetings with Lawrence. And, we see the outcome. So, this film makes a point – intentional or otherwise – about one's friends. There's an old saying from years ago in the national campaign against drunken driving. "Friends don't let friends drive drunk." Well, a similar one might apply here, in the plot of this film. "Friends don't encourage friends to step out on spouses they love." Another might be, "Friends don't tempt friends to be unfaithful."There's not a lot of intrigue here, but it's a very good drama with excellent performances by all, especially Loy. Definitely worth seeing. And an especially goof film to watch with friends. And, then raise the point afterwards.

mmallon4 Movies like Evelyn Prentice give me one of the greatest satisfactions I get from watching films; discovering an obscurity from an actor's filmography which I end up considering to be one of their finest films. Myrna Loy superbly carries Evelyn Prentice , dominating majority of the screen time, with William Powell delivering one of his finest dramatic turns, while seeing Rosalind Russell in her screen debut is just a mere bonus. Russell doesn't have a whole lot to do but she still comes off as a memorable screen presence despite this, although it is a little odd hearing her speak in an English accent and not at a machine gun rate. Loy and Una Merkel make for a fun duo, with Merkel having a very memorable comic sounding voice. Just the deco of Evelyn Prentice itself makes me love this film more, whether it's a smoke filled night club, the lavish interior of Powell and Loy's home to even the clothes worn in the film (the costume department really knocks this one out of the park), sucking me into the world of the 1930's.Scenes such as the family exercising or the father and daughter playing piano together helps humanize them, making me more fearful that a character played by the sweetheart Myrna Loy could be going to prison, or maybe get the electric chair! The tension builds as the film progresses. The scene in which a witness arrives at the Prentice household while Evelyn is present to describe the women she witnessed leaving the murder scene, this women of course being Evelyn buy nobody else knows that, feels like the type of moment you would get from a Hitchcock movie. In fact the entire premise of the movie could be given the Hitchcock treatment.I often feel like Hollywood make being a lawyer look like the coolest job ever. Even if John Prentice (William Powell) is missing time from his family, his turn during the film's courtroom climax makes the profession look like a constant flow of hair raising excitement. The film's final twenty minute courtroom sequence had my heart pounding, eating up every minute of its melodramatic glory while screaming in anticipation to how the characters are going to get themselves out of this situation. At the same time however I was tense that the movie would pull the characters out of their intense dilemma in a contrived manner, I'm pleased to say I was not disappointed. The outcome of the case is movie fantasy but it didn't feel like a cop out. Throughout this sequence Powell and Loy do some of the finest acting work of their careers. Myrna Loy is generally not highly regarded as a dramatic actress but I would defy anyone say otherwise as she lays on the tears and the passionate pleas. I must also give credit to Judith Wilson, whole also left an impression during these proceedings. As a fan of Powell & Loy partnership and courtroom dramas, their third film together satisfied more than I could ask for. Manhattan Melodrama, The Thin Man and Evelyn Prentice all in one year, ain't too stingy.

MartinHafer Despite having Myrna Loy and William Powell in the lead roles, this is a thoroughly forgettable film due to a ridiculous plot and poor writing throughout. Oddly, while this wasn't a very good film, they remade it just a few years later as STRONGER THAN DESIRE--complete with the same plot problems.The film begins with work-a-holic lawyer, Powell, winning a case for his client, Rosalind Russell. At this point, Russell throws herself at Powell even though he is a married man. At this point in the film, you aren't certain if Powell reciprocated, but his behavior would seem to indicate he did--as he was rarely home and worked 4954 hours a week--a recipe for marital disaster. This and Loy's desire for love would have made a fine film. However, the writers decided to chuck the entire setup and have Loy be blackmailed by a man with whom she really didn't do anything!! And in a move that makes absolutely no sense, she appears to kill the guy instead of just walking out of his apartment.There's more to the film than this, but it's all pretty contrived and tough to swallow--particularly in the last half of the movie during the courtroom scene in which Powell (the defense attorney) works hard to prove his own client is guilty!! Wow, I'm sure the Bar Association would have felt proud to have him as a member! The bottom line is that you've got two excellent actors in a sticky and poorly written film that is simply beneath their abilities. See it if you are curious but don't watch it if you'd like to be entertained!By the way, take a look at the entry for this film in the Leonard Maltin Guide--the entry is pretty funny. He describes Cora Sue Collins (who plays Powell's and Loy's child) as "an obnoxious brat"! This is uncharacteristically candid for this book but also rather true. While she isn't as hatefully dreadful an actor as Lee Harcourt Montgomery (from such movies as BEN) or David Kory (from DONDI), she is a pretty obnoxious and saccharine-sweet little....kid. Despite her inability to act, she did appear in almost 50 films!

Rastamon41 I saw this movie last night, it kept me guessing how it will end, (which I won't spoil for you). Yes, some of the action is not plausible in today's court room drama, but for a pure entertainment value, this movie is a "9". Myrna Loy looks fabulous in this movie, but with a best friend, like her girl-friend in this movie, you don't need enemies. Your best friend should help keep you out of trouble not get you in trouble. There are a moral issues to this movie, watch out for the friends you keep, pick better friends, and it is not all greener on the outside of the street. I won't tell you anymore, I won't spoil it for you. Go to eBay or Amazon and buy this movie, you will enjoy the hour or so that you will spend watching this movie. Not as well-known as other movies starring Myrna Loy, but "Evelyn Prentice" is most definitely worth your while.