Parents' Guide to

The Women (1939)

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

All-star femmes manage marriage, morals, and money.

Movie NR 1939 133 minutes
The Women (1939) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

Rose B.
Rose B. Parent of 2-year-old
May 21, 2023
age 18+

Sexist BS

If I could give this less than one star I would .

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Mary Haines (Norma Shearer) is the perfect wife. She has it all: beauty, poise, brains, a generous rich husband, a lovely young daughter, and a circle of worldly, wealthy, wise-cracking friends. But a few of those friends can't wait to gleefully shatter Mary's blissful innocence when they discover that the beloved Mr. Stephen Haines is "stepping out" with gold-digging shop girl Crystal Allen (Joan Crawford). Mary is devastated, her pride crumbling, her marriage at the brink. From that moment forward infidelity, divorce, and shattered confidence touch the lives of almost all of the members of Mary's sisterhood.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

With great dialogue and broad, acid-tongued characters, this film is funny, sophisticated, and delightful to watch. THE WOMEN was a ground-breaking movie in 1939. It's about women, written by women, with an all-female cast (not a single man appears on-screen). The movie takes a brash look at the lives and manners of a group of gossipy, catty "friends" in New York City. They're rich; they're self-centered. Some are social-climbers; some are saintly. Its simple plot is accompanied by a number of fully drawn set pieces evoking the world of the very rich in 1939: the beauty salon, the exercise studio, department store fitting rooms and, though the rest of the movie is in beautiful black-and-white, a lengthy fashion show in bright Technicolor that dazzles with the fabulous costumes of the day.

The stellar cast, which includes Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, and Joan Fontaine in addition to Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford, bring charm and wit to the already sparkling written word.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the movie portrays women in 1939. How realistic is this movie compared to female-centered comedies today? Have times and behavior changed? What hasn't changed? Describe how women's lives are different now. In what way do the filmmakers show the distinct social classes of the late 1930s? What does this movie say about friendship?

Movie Details

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