The Devil and Miss Jones

Item: The Devil and Miss Jones
Rating: 8
Author: Christopher Null

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"Excellent"

The Devil and Miss Jones Review

By Christopher Null

Wow, that title sure sounds like a porn movie, doesn't it? (The Devil in Miss Jones came out in 1972.) Of course, this one isn't adult fare, and in fact the devil doesn't even make an appearance in the film. The misleading title actually refers to a department store owner, J.P. Merrick (a masterful Charles Coburn, who never really got his due), who goes undercover in his own store to root out union organizers. Along the way he finds love, friendship (with Jean Arthur's Mary Jones), and a surprisingly funny series of events. The sole dud in the film: Robert Cummings, as Mary's boyfriend/union ringleader, whose whining and soul-searching nearly wreck the whole thing. It's supposed to be a comedy, Bob!

Facts and Figures

Year: 1941

Run time: 92 mins

In Theaters: Friday 11th April 1941

Production compaines: Frank Ross-Norma Krasna Inc.

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 4 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Fresh: 5

IMDB: 7.8 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: Sam Wood

Producer: Frank Ross

Screenwriter: Norman Krasna

Starring: Jean Arthur as Mary Jones, Charles Coburn as John P. Merrick/Thomas Higgins, Robert Cummings as Joe O'Brien, Edmund Gwenn as Hooper, Spring Byington as Elizabeth Ellis, S.Z. Sakall as George (Merrick's Butler), Walter Kingsford as Mr. Allison (General Manager), Montagu Love as Harrison, Richard Carle as Oliver, Charles Waldron as Needles, Edwin Maxwell as Withers, Edward McNamara as Police Desk Sergeant, Robert Emmett Keane as Tom Higgins, Florence Bates as Store Shopper, Bess Flowers as Saleslady