Skip to content

Tonight Collections Voices The Daily Library

Search films, people and collections/

Advanced search

A Criterion Channel companion.

Tonight
On 24/7
Leaving soon
Recently added
Fresh from theaters

Collections
Adventures in Moviegoing
Observations on Film Art
Meet the Filmmakers
Box sets
Editions

Closet
Top 10s
Commentators
The Feed

Lists
Want to watch
Favorites
Profile

© 2026 Criteria. Not affiliated with The Criterion Collection.

The Lady Eve (1941) | Criteria

Still from The Lady Eve — The Lady Eve (1941) — Preston SturgesPhotographed by Victor Milner

Poster for The Lady Eve

Preston Sturges

The Lady Eve

United States / English / 1941 / 1h 37m

Not streamingNot currently on the Criterion Channel.

Criterion Collection: Spine №103
Letterboxd: 3.96/5·45K ratings·13.8K reviewson Letterboxd
Connections: View Connections

Synopsis

It's no accident when wealthy Charles falls for Jean. Jean is a con artist with her sights set on Charles' fortune. Matters complicate when Jean starts falling for her mark. When Charles suspects Jean is a gold digger, he dumps her. Jean, fixated on revenge and still pining for the millionaire, devises a plan to get back in Charles' life. With love and payback on her mind, she re-introduces herself to Charles, this time as an aristocrat named Lady Eve Sidwich.

Wes Anderson
Jul 2026

Matthew Broderick

Jul 2025

Christian Petzold

Jul 2023

James L. Brooks

Dec 2017

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena

Jul 2017

Owen Kline#2tie
Gary Giddins#2
Phil Rosenthal#4
Dennis Lehane#4
Kevin Macdonald#4
Whit Stillman#5
Monte Hellman#5
Ricky Jay#5
Al Reinert#6
Robin Wood#6
Allan Arkush#6
Oren Moverman#7tie

Included in
Love in Disguise
Position 9
Included in
John Turturro’s Adventures in Moviegoing
Position 1
Included in
Directed by Preston Sturges
Position 3
Included in
November 2023
Position 40
Included in
Con Games
Position 2
Included in
All You Need Is Love
Position 5
Included in
December 2022
Position 31
Included in
March 2021
Position 57

Credits

Crew

DirectorPreston Sturges

WriterPreston Sturges

CinematographerVictor Milner

ComposerPhil Boutelje, Charles Bradshaw, Gil Grau, Sigmund Krumgold, John Leipold, Leo Shuken

EditorStuart Gilmore

ProducerPaul Jones, Buddy G. DeSylva, Albert Lewin

Cast

Barbara Stanwyckas Jean Harrington

Henry Fondaas Charles Pike

Charles Coburnas 'Colonel' Harrington

Eugene Palletteas Horace Pike

William Demarestas Muggsy

Eric Bloreas Sir Alfred McGlennan Keith

Melville Cooperas Gerald

Martha O'Driscollas Martha

Janet Beecheras Janet Pike

Robert Greigas Burrows

Dora Clementas Gertrude

Luis Albernias Emile, Pike's chef

Bobby Barberas Ship's Waiter with Toupee (uncredited)

Eddie Hallas Chauffeur (uncredited)

Arthur Stuart Hullas Party Guest (uncredited)

Wilda Bennettas Party Guest (uncredited)

Evelyn Beresfordas Party Guest (uncredited)

Georgie Cooperas Party Guest (uncredited)

Bess Flowersas Party Guest (uncredited)

Kenneth Gibsonas Party Guest (uncredited)

Double Feature

Streaming now, and why it pairs with this film

Poster for The 39 Steps

The 39 Steps1935

Both picked by Matthew Broderick and Wes Anderson in the Criterion Closet, and both on Ricky Jay’s Top 10

Or

Children of Paradise1945Both on Top 10 lists by Gary Giddins, Monte Hellman and 2 others
I Know Where I’m Going!1945Both on Top 10 lists by Kevin Macdonald, Ricky Jay and Robin Wood

Related Films

via Criterion Collection

Poster for The Furies

The Furies

1950

Poster for Heaven Can Wait

Heaven Can Wait

1943

Poster for The Palm Beach Story

The Palm Beach Story

1942

Articles

via Criterion Collection

The Lady Eve: Sweet RevengeGeoffrey O’Brien — Jul 15, 2020
The Lady EveJames Harvey — Oct 16, 2001
The Lady Eve ’s Long Road to High DefinitionLee Kline — Oct 2, 2020
For the Love of the ConTerrence Rafferty — Dec 8, 2023
Screwball Romance in BaltimoreNov 16, 2017
The Funniest Films Ever WrittenNov 12, 2015