Synopsis

A trio of classy card sharks targets the socially awkward heir to brewery millions for his money, till one of them falls in love with him.

A 1941 American screwball comedy film, The Lady Eve is the tale of a rich and naive heir to a brewing empire who has the misfortune of attracting the wrong kind of company whilst returning from an expedition in the Amazon and the romance that blossoms as a result. Written and directed by Preston Sturges, at the time the film was considered by many to be one of the best of the year and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Writing, Original Story.

The story begins with Charles Pike (Henry Fonda), an ophiologist (a snake expert), having just spent a year "up the Amazon" looking for rare snakes with his cynical and protective guardian/valet Muggsy (William Demarest). The two board the S.S. Southern Queen bound for New York and Charles soon becomes the ships most eligible bachelor when the ladies on the boat realise he is the heir to the Pike Ale fortune.

Also noticing Charles' arrival is the trio of con artists Colonel Handsome Harry Harrington (Charles Coburn), his partner Gerald (Melville Cooper), and the Colonel's daughter Jean (Barbara Stanwyck). Seeing Charles as gullible and an easy mark, the trio set up to fleece him of all they can by first having Jean seduce the man, scaring away all other female attention. With Charles now distracted by Jean, the trio set about draining his money via some carefully orchestrated games of cards.

Jean however finds herself unexpectedly falling in love with the man and when her father attempts to cheat at cards, she blocks him. At the same time Charles' Valet Muggsy is suspicious of Jean and her father, setting out to convince his employer that they are in fact card sharps. Charles does not believe him however while Jean waits for him on the deck of the ship her father convinces him to a game of double or nothing, winning $32,000.

Upon discovering this, Jean forces her father to tear up Charles' check. Meanwhile Muggsy is able to produce evidence that the two are criminals and upon discovering this, Charles' breaks off his relationship with her claiming he knew her true intent all along.

In a fit of Anger, Jean sets out to get revenge on Charles by assuming the identity of an aristocratic English woman, Lady Eve Sidwich. With her new identity she intends to seduce him once again and hurt him as he hurt her. Despite Muggsy's insistence that "she's the same dame", Charles falls for her once again, however this time he marries her. But when Jean finally has him where she wants him, she finds that their relationship is not easy for her to say goodbye to.