The Lady Eve

A 1941 Screwball Comedy by Preston Sturges, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.

Jean Harrington and her dad are Con Men who set their sights on rich heir Charles Pike while on the same cruise ship. Much to her surprise, Jean falls for the Adorkable Charles, but before she can tell him who she is, his manservant outs her as a con. Naturally, Charles dumps her, and Jean decides to pull a con on him as "The Lady Eve" to really screw with him...

Tropes used in The Lady Eve include:

• Animated Credits Opening
• Bare Your Midriff
• Card Sharp
• The Con
• Cute Clumsy Boy: Charles
• Fake Twin Gambit: Jean is supposedly Lady Eve's illegitimate half-sister.
• Meet Cute
• Names to Trust Immediately: Pearlie's alias, Sir Alfred McGlennan-Keith, R.F.D., as he explains to Jean:

Jean: But how do you meet them?
Pearlie: The chumps? Oh, my dear lady, with a name like Sir Alfred McGlennan-Keith, one doesn't have to meet them - one fights them off with sticks.

• Not Even Bothering with the Accent: "Lady Eve" is supposed to be English and have only arrived in North America three days ago!
• One Born Every Minute
• Opera Gloves
• Professional Gambler
• Really Gets Around: "Eve" reveals this to Charles on the honeymoon night. He is not thrilled.
• Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Subverted in that Charles loves them, but played straight with Jean.
• Something Else Also Rises
• Wedding Day