WOMEN, THE (1939) Group cast climactic scene photo

Vintage original 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm.) black-and-white double weight glossy silver gelatin print still photo, USA. Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, Paulette Goddard, Joan Fontaine, Phyllis Povah, Virginia Weidler, Lucile Watson, Marjorie Main, dir: George Cukor: MGM. One of the most famous films of the 1930s with the wittiest of scripts and dialogue. F. Scott Fitzgerald contributed to the script based on Clare Booth Luce’s Broadway play. Superb in every respect, the film nonetheless was released during the most competitive year of superb film works and did not receive a single Academy nomination.

Still labeled “1091×174” depicts the climatic final scene in which there is a major showdown amongst the film’s main characters in a New York City nightclub ladies powder room. Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer were allowed to play out in character their dislike for each other in this scene. Queens of MGM, their reign would be over in two years. Shearer would retire while Crawford re-invented herself and moved on to an entirely new film career. Rosalind Russell’s career would flourish as she went onto starring roles in films for another 25 years, while Paulette Goddard would have a leading lady reign throughout the 1940s. Others in the scene are Phyllis Povah, Mary Boland and Florence Nash. Hedda Hopper, not seen here, also appeared in this scene. Adrian gowned all the actresses.

This photo, part of a series which told the plot of the film, includes its original typed blurb on the verso and also features the Hollywood Advertising Council Approval stamp, dated July 10, 1939. Very minor wear, ABOUT FINE.