I like all of Preston Sturgesx27; films, but this one I love - it is nearly perfect - one of those rare films that affect you long after you have watched it. Anyone who thinks old films are stilted, naive or wet should watch The Lady Eve, there is cynicism, and sophisticated and ribald dialogue you still wouldnx27;t want a child to fully understand. To adapt a line from the film, it has a wonderful way of building up romance then bouncing it down again with wit. Having said that, it is still terribly romantic.
It is impossible not to fall for Barbara Stanwyckx27;s character and at no point, despite being opposites, do the leads feel mismatched in any way. Both of their early screen personas were used by Sturges; Fondax27;s stiffness to convey a touching innocence and Stanwyckx27;s tough yet vulnerable worldliness to rough him up.
A quick word about slapstick, which forms a part of almost all of Sturgesx27; films, Ix27;m not incredibly fond of it and quite often it can be a little tiresome and contrived for modern audiences, as anyone who has had to fast-forward through Rex Harrisonx27;s interminable solo scene in Unfaithfully Yours can attest, but here, though it is very important to the plot, it is limited and every instance fits naturally into the scene with perfect timing and, like the rest of the film, is still very, very funny.