Story of movie The Devil And Miss Jones : The Devil and Miss Jones is a 1941 comedy film starring Jean Arthur, Robert Cummings, and Charles Coburn. Directed by Sam Wood and scripted by Norman Krasna, the film was the product of an independent collaboration between Krasna and producer Frank Ross (Jean Arthur's husband). Their short-lived production company released two films through RKO Radio Pictures (Miss Jones and 1943's A Lady Takes a Chance). The film was well received by critics upon its release and garnered Academy Award nominations for Coburn and Krasna.
| The Devil and Miss Jones | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sam Wood |
| Produced by | Frank Ross |
| Written by | Norman Krasna |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | Harry Stradling, Sr. |
| Edited by | Sherman Todd |
Production company | Frank Ross-Norma Krasna |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $664,000 |
| Box office | $1,421,000 |
Screenplay
Cantankerous tycoon John P. Merrick (Charles Coburn) goes undercover as a shoe clerk at his own New York department store to identify agitators trying to form a union, after seeing a newspaper picture of his employees hanging him in effigy. He befriends fellow clerk Mary Jones (Jean Arthur) and her recently fired boyfriend Joe O'Brien (Robert Cummings), a labor union organizer. Through his firsthand experiences, he grows more sympathetic to the needs of his workers, while finding unexpected love with sweet-natured clerk Elizabeth Ellis (Spring Byington).
- Jean Arthur as Mary Jones, store clerk
- Robert Cummings as Joe O'Brien
- Charles Coburn as John P. Merrick, richest man in the world
- Edmund Gwenn as Hooper, section manager
- Spring Byington as Elizabeth Ellis, clerk
- S.Z. Sakall as George (Merrick's Butler)
- William Demarest as First Detective
- Walter Kingsford as Mr. Allison, store 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
- Pat Flaherty as Mark - Policeman with Pickpocket
- Irving Cummings as
- Minta Durfee as customer
- William Elmer as Attendant at Jim's Bath House
- Frank Mills as attendant at Third Bath House
- Victor Potel as attendant at First Bath House
- Walter Tetley as Stock Boy
Frank Ross and Norman Krasna decided to produce a movie together starring Jean Arthur based on a story by Krasna. They formed a partnership with Ross, Krasna and Arthur (who was Ross' wife) and borrowed $600,000 from the bank.
The script was written in ten weeks and then Sam Wood came on board as director. Krasna described the experience of making the film as one of the best in his career.
RKO agreed to distribute the film. It was Arthur's first film at RKO since The Ex-Mrs Bradford. Robert Cummings was signed to play the male lead; he was shooting a film at MGM concurrently.
Filming started 16 December 1940.
Filming had to stop for nine days so Robert Cummings could shoot extra scenes at MGM in Free and Easy.
The film needed three days of re shoots included adding a role for Montagu Love.
The film made a profit of $117,000.
- Best Supporting Actor - Charles Coburn
- Best Original Screenplay - Norman Krasna
On November 14, 1941, Philip Morris Playhouse presented The Devil and Miss Jones. The adaptation starred Lana Turner. The story was also adapted as a radio play on two broadcasts of Lux Radio Theater, first on January 19, 1942 with Lana Turner and Lionel Barrymore, then on March 12, 1945 with Linda Darnell and Frank Morgan. It was also adapted twice on The Screen Guild Theater, first on June 7, 1943 with Laraine Day, Charles Coburn and George Murphy, again on August 12, 1946 with Van Johnson and Donna Reed. It was also adapted on the October 23, 1946 broadcast of Academy Award Theater, starring Charles Coburn and Virginia Mayo.
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