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      The Gorgeous Hussy

      Released Aug 28, 1936 1h 42m History Drama List
      Reviews 32% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Barkeeper's daughter Peggy O'Neal (Joan Crawford), a close friend of U.S. President Andrew Jackson (Lionel Barrymore), becomes one of the politician's most trusted advisers in the wake of his wife's death, to the great dismay of both the cabinet and the cream of Washington society. As Peggy deals with vicious insults and rumors, she fights to keep the mounting opposition to her presence from destroying the special friendship she has developed with Jackson. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Some good historical scenes, but the picture wanders considerably. Aug 7, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com This MGM fictionalized historical drama tries but doesn't always succeed to be a good star vehicle for Joan Crawford (as Peggy Eaton) as well as a biopic of President Andrew Jackson. Rated: C+ Jan 19, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member This movie is a disgrace to history and period pieces of the 30's. The true story of Peggy Eaton was so much better and I have no idea why they didn't follow the storyline the way it played out in real life. Peggy Eaton was a flirt and married while she was having an affair with Sec. of Agriculture John Eaton. It didn't make any sense in this movie to have Joan Crawford's character not be turned on by Francot Tone, who she was married to in real life. Instead she was attracted to John Randolph, who was a Senator and this part was fictional for no reason. Why not have her fall in love with her future husband? Her husband, at the time, did die at sea and it was rumored that he committed suicide because Peggy was having an affair with John Eaton, who she married a month later. That would have been a real drama. Then, when she went calling on the Washington Ladies, they snubbed her and called her a "hussy." Andrew Jackson was so mad, he fired his whole cabinet, like in the movie. This movie didn't make any sense and to call it "Gorgeous Hussy" made people think they were going to get a good soap opera, which they could have if they would have written a script that stuck to the story. I can just see a good scene with Peggy calling on the ladies only to kept waiting in a hallway and head held high as she had to leave in shame. Joan Crawford can't act. Vivien Leigh, she is not. She spends every scene trying to look radiant and only looks like a deer in headlights. Andrew Jackson was not Jed Clampett, as he is portrayed here. For God's sake, he was a lawyer, Senator and General at the time of his inauguration. He would not have been brawling at his inauguration party and he didn't say "ain't". Rachel was not Granny Clampet either. She was from a wealthy family in Tennessee and did smoke a pipe, but then a lot of independent minded women smoked. I was just appalled at the portrayal of these characters. No plot was developed and the political issues of nullification, states rights, Bank of America and Peggy Eaton as the 'hussy' were not developed and if the viewer doesn't know history, this whole movie would be perplexing to say the least. As the last scene fades, when the "heroine" who doesn't love her "hero" sails off to Spain, we are left feeling cheated of history. This movie is only good to see the beautiful sets and costumes of the time. I don't even understand why Beulah Bondi, who was great as Rachel was nominated for an Academy Award for her 3 or 4 scenes. There must have been other actresses who had more complex roles that year. Joan Crawford was just awful and Lionel Barrymore should have done a little more study on Andrew Jackson, who was a strong and noble gentleman, not a country bumpkin. I only rate this movie as high as I did for the costumes and set design. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review steve d I instantly hate anything with Jackson in it but its acting was strong even if the dialog wasn't Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review ashley h The Gorgeous Hussy is an incredible film. It is about President Andrew Jackson's friendship with an innkeeper's daughter which spells trouble for them both. Joan Crawford, Lionel Barrymore, and Robert Taylor give excellent performances. The screenplay is well written. Clarence Brown did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and romance. The Gorgeous Hussy is a must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Joan Crawford is the title hussy in this star-studded (Lionel Barrymore, Franchot Tone, Melvyn Douglas, James Stewart, Louis Calhern and Gene Lockhart) historical drama about President Andrew Jackson's secret advisor and confidant, Crawford. It's certainly a well mounted costume drama, but the film is rather slow uninvolving. Joan is also awfully miscast in this costume drama. However, it is rather entertaining to see Jimmy Stewart in a powdered wig. I can accept Jimmy as a cowpoke, detective or everyman, but not so much as a rakish colonial gentlemen. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member a lavish A pic MGM costume drama Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Joan was miscast and the storyline just plods along.... Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Gorgeous Hussy

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Barkeeper's daughter Peggy O'Neal (Joan Crawford), a close friend of U.S. President Andrew Jackson (Lionel Barrymore), becomes one of the politician's most trusted advisers in the wake of his wife's death, to the great dismay of both the cabinet and the cream of Washington society. As Peggy deals with vicious insults and rumors, she fights to keep the mounting opposition to her presence from destroying the special friendship she has developed with Jackson.
      Director
      Clarence Brown
      Distributor
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
      Production Co
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
      Genre
      History, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 28, 1936, Original
      Release Date (DVD)
      Mar 1, 2011
      Runtime
      1h 42m