Watch Satan Met a Lady

Satan Met a Lady is a 1936 mystery-comedy film featuring Bette Davis in the lead role. Directed by William Dieterle, this movie is an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's novel The Maltese Falcon. The film also stars Warren William and Alison Skipworth in pivotal roles. The film's story revolves around the theft of a rare artifact, and a chase ensues to acquire it before it falls into the wrong hands.

The movie opens with a scene showing a private detective named Ted Shane (Warren William) in conversation with a young woman named Valerie Purvis (Marie Wilson). Valerie is looking for a job and makes a flirting attempt towards Ted. But as soon as he realizes her intentions, he tries to brush her off, and the scene ends.

Later, Valerie visits a wealthy woman, Mrs. Barraclough (Alison Skipworth), who asks her help in framing Ted, who is sitting on a case for which she hired him. Mrs. Barraclough wants to use Ted's involvement in the case to blackmail him, even though she herself knows nothing about the case. She also mentions the possibility of a treasure worth millions, a rare artifact called the Horn of Roland.

Mrs. Barraclough is aware that her plan might not work, so she also reaches out to another private detective named Milton Ames (Arthur Treacher), offering him the same job, with the added lure of a $10,000 bonus. Ames agrees.

Ted is investigating the theft of the Horn of Roland, and it is believed to have been stolen by Kasper Gutman, a known criminal. However, both Ted and Ames realize that the real thief is Michael Fury (Ricardo Cortez), who coincidentally happens to be Valerie's ex-boyfriend. They both decide to capture Fury and return the Horn of Roland to its rightful owner.

Meanwhile, a second storyline develops, where Ted meets a beautiful woman named Ruth Wonderly (Bette Davis) at a hotel bar, who lies to him about her identity. However, Ted discovers that she is really Valerie, and she has come disguised as Ruth to steal the Horn of Roland. Ted confronts Valerie, who eventually reveals the truth to him. Ted still agrees to help Valerie, given that she is not an entirely bad person and is in a desperate situation.

As the plot thickens, and the two detectives try to capture Michael Fury and uncover the location of the Horn, things take a curious turn, and the story becomes more intricate, with plot twists and shocking revelations.

Satan Met a Lady is a tightly woven, engaging movie, featuring an impressive performance by the cast, particularly Bette Davis. She plays the role of Ruth Wonderly/Valerie Purvis with poise and elegance, keeping the audience engaged and curious about her intentions. Warren William is fantastic as Ted Shane, portraying the private detective with style and substance. Alison Skipworth plays Mrs. Barraclough with equal grace and charm, while Ricardo Cortez's performance as Michael Fury has a slightly menacing edge to it. The chemistry between the cast is palpable, and the screenplay keeps the audience interested throughout.

On the technical side, the film has a dark and mysterious look, with excellent camera work and lighting. The sets and costumes blend well with the film's noir themes. The background music is subtle and doesn't overpower the dialogue, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the story.

In conclusion, Satan Met a Lady is a classic movie with a great cast, excellent direction, and a screenplay that keeps the audience guessing till the end. It is an entertaining and engaging film that deserves a watch and is a must-watch for noir film enthusiasts.

Satan Met a Lady is a 1936 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 14 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.