I choose Goddard, at least because her hairdo and fashions are not as damnably silly as those of the other players.
And speaking of prettiness, what happened to the formerly very pretty Meg Ryan? The remake is a torment to watch because Ryan's mouth is so deformed that she looks like the daughter of the Joker.
God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)
I think Goddard as well was the prettiest of the main characters. But I thought Ruth Hussey as the wisecracking salesgirl Pat was the prettiest woman in the film.
And I agree that Meg Ryan's plastic surgeries have not worked out well.
Pat was played by Virginia Grey, and yes she was very pretty.
shareI love Virginia Grey's looks in this movie. If Stephen Haines had seen her I don't think Crystal would have had a chance.
That being said I think Paulette Godard is the most beautiful of the principle actresses and seems to have the most natural beauty.
I think Ruth Hussey plays the no-nonsense secretary of the husband who comes to see Mary and get her to sign her will.
My mistake! I don't know where my head was. Of course, Virginia Grey.
Thanks for the correction. :)
Get me a bromide! And put some gin in it!
I have always thought Joan Fontaine was attractive, but I don't guess I have ever seen her when she was this young. She was quite beautiful in this movie. I love Paulette, but I have to pick Fontaine as the prettiest.
Give Meg a break. It's not easy to keep up with being the young, perky, cutey pie that she grew famous for.
All the principle women were attractive, and I always thought that Rosalind Russell was underrated in in that regard. Well, in those days there certainly was plenty of competition. And of course both Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer looked better a few years before the film was made (Joan in Grand Hotel was one of the most beautiful and impressively so actresses ever).
But it comes down to Joan Fontaine and Paulette Godard. I understand some see Paulette's look in this film as more contemporary, and she is gorgeous, but quite simply the answer is Joan Fontaine. Watching this film it is like a frisson every time she is in the picture, and I can't take my eyes off her.
Rosalind Russell
Paulette Goddard
Joan Fontaine
All three of them are pretty.
Definetly Goddard.
Her character is my favorite as well.
I always thought that Paulette Goddard had a sort of natural beauty that was unique for stars of that era, so she is my favorite of the bunch, though they are all quite pretty. I think that Crawford got better with age personally.
shareJoan Fontaine: adorably young & Paulette Goddard as one hot tamale!!! None of the others (as great as they all were in their roles) even come close to these two major babes! Their overshadowed roles by the showier ladies like Rosalind Russell were ultimately overlooked and underappreciated as both deserved Oscar noms despite their beauty!
shareVery, very tough call, I may have to abstain.
The age factor plays into it too: Fontaine was 21, Goddard was 28, Roz was 31, Crawford had just turned 34, and Shearer was 36 and a half at the time of filming.
By far, Goddard was sexiest, and her wise and knowing character let her play it up. Crystal was sexy too, but in her case it was threatening, because she wasn't after a man, she was after his wallet.
Hunt Stromberg, the producer had even told Russell at first, flat-out, the reason he didn't test her for Sylvia is because she was 'too beautiful.' And she is.
Norma is my favorite (always), but doggone it, the five 'big' names were all beautiful women.
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Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it simplifies every problem.
Hmm...
Fontaine is the prettiest. As Alfred Hitchcock once noted, she augments her beauty with the pretense of shyness. Her stammer and nervousness were carefully practiced. (In reality, she was an ultra-confident barracuda who dryly mocked her roles.)
Paulette Goddard is the sexiest. She has a jaded charisma and peppy confidence.
However...
Talent wise, Rosalind Russell steals the movie. Her comedic technique is amazing -- her fearless freakishness, eye rolls, hand gestures, affected clumsiness. I love the fact that Russell actually bit Goddard in their fight sequence for The Women and the teeth marks are real. That's dedication to the craft.