The Last of Mrs. Cheyney | 1929 | Comedy-Drama

Title: The Last of Mrs. Cheyney | 1929 | Comedy-Drama Director: Sidney Franklin Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Starring: Norma Shearer, Basil Rathbone, George Barraud, Herbert Bunston, Hedda Hopper Based on: The 1925 play "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" by Frederick Lonsdale Release Date: July 6, 1929 Runtime: 94 minutes Format: Black and white; Western Electric sound-on-film; 7 reels; also released in a silent version Country: United States Language: English Genres: Comedy, Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Monte Carlo introduction 00:19:30 Society invitations 00:42:00 Country house weekend 01:06:30 The necklace and ultimatum 01:26:00 Confession and resolution --- Summary: Fay Cheyney, a resourceful thief posing as a wealthy widow, infiltrates high society in Monte Carlo and London with the help of confederates posing as her servants. Targeting a pearl necklace owned by Mrs. Webley, Fay becomes close to the family and attracts the attention of Lord Arthur Dilling, whose interest complicates her scheme. During a weekend at the Webley estate, Fay is caught attempting the theft and faces an ultimatum from Arthur. Refusing to compromise her principles, she confesses, forcing the assembled aristocrats to confront their own indiscretions. Fay’s integrity in the aftermath reframes her identity and relationships, turning a caper into a story about honor, hypocrisy, and second chances. --- Background: Adapted from Frederick Lonsdale’s successful 1925 stage play, this early sound, pre-Code production was filmed at MGM with sets by Cedric Gibbons, costumes by Adrian, and sound engineering led by Douglas Shearer. Principal photography began in February 1929, and the film premiered in July of that year. Screenwriter Hanns Kräly received an Academy Award nomination for Best Writing at the 2nd Academy Awards, and contemporary polls cited the film among the notable releases of 1929. --- Trivia: Hedda Hopper appears as Lady Maria, several years before becoming one of Hollywood’s most famous gossip columnists. The film was issued in both synchronized-sound and silent versions to accommodate theaters still transitioning to talkies. Adrian designed Norma Shearer’s gowns, highlighting MGM’s emphasis on haute couture in late-1920s prestige pictures. The production used the Western Electric sound system, reflecting MGM’s rapid adoption of talkie technology in 1929. The film was voted among the Ten Best Pictures of 1929 in a Film Daily poll. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: July 6, 1929 Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp. Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: TheLastOfMrsCheyney 1929 PublicDomain ClassicFilm PreCode NormaShearer BasilRathbone MGM Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Last_of_Mrs._Cheyney_(1929).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/The_Last_of_Mrs._Cheyney_%281929%29.webm