A Woman's World

Plot

In this subtle 1954 comedy with feminist overtones, Clifton Webb plays Gifford, an executive with a large automobile manufacturer who is having trouble deciding who to hire as his chief sales manager. His three candidates are equally competent, so he brings their wives with them to New York headquarters, planning to hire the one whose wife is most suited to be an executive's wife. Elizabeth (Lauren Bacall) is the wife of Sid (Fred MacMurray), a company man. Elizabeth knows that Sid is such a workaholic that she will never see him if he gets the new job, but she is loyal to her husband and impresses the hiring team with her competency. Bill Baxter (Cornel Wilde) is handicapped in the competition by his wife Katie (June Allyson), a clumsy but sweet small-town girl from the Midwest. Katie dutifully tries to impress the big boss but proves inept at handling the social responsibilities. She would prefer to stay in Kansas City anyway. Jerry (Van Heflin) is married to Carol (Arlene Dahl), a seductive gold-digger who sexually teases various executives in the hopes that her assets can help land Jerry the job. Instead, her out-of-bounds behavior gets Jerry eliminated from the list, at least until Jerry tells Gifford that he doesn't sanction his wife's behavior. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Cast

• Clifton Webb - Gifford
• June Allyson - Katie
• Van Heflin - Jerry
• Lauren Bacall - Elizabeth
• Fred MacMurray - Sid
• Arlene Dahl - Carol

Cornel Wilde - Bill Baxter; Elliott Reid - Tony; Margalo Gillmore - Evelyn; Alan Reed, Sr. - Tomaso; David Hoffman - Jerecki; George Melford - Worker at Auto Plant; Eric Wilton - Butler; Marc Snow - Waiter; Bert Stevens - Doorman; Rodney Bell - Executive; Billie Bird - Woman in Bargain Basement; Kathryn Card - Woman in Bargain Basement; Jonathan Hole - Executive; Jarma Lewis - Woman in Bargain Basement; Melinda Markey - Daughter; Maudie Prickett - Mother; George Spaulding - Ship's Captain; George E. Stone - Executive; Beverly Thompson - Model; Carleton Young - Executive; William Tannen - Executive; Paul Power - Executive; Anne Kunde; Conrad Feia - Bellhop; Janet Stewart - Woman in Bargain Basement

Credit

Lyle Wheeler - Art Director, Charles LeMaire - Costume Designer, Jean Negulesco - Director, Louis Loeffler - Editor, Cyril Mockridge - Composer (Music Score), Sammy Cahn - Songwriter, Cyril Mockridge - Songwriter, Joe MacDonald - Cinematographer, Charles Brackett - Producer, Claude Binyon - Screenwriter, Russel Crouse - Screenwriter, Howard Lindsay - Screenwriter, Mary Loos - Screenwriter, Richard Sale - Screenwriter, Mona Williams - Short Story Author

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