The Devil and Miss Jones Photos

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Cast

Charles Coburn
as John P. Merrick

Jean Arthur
as Mary Jones

Robert Cummings
as Joe O'Brien

Edmund Gwenn
as Hooper

Spring Byington
as Elizabeth Ellis

S.Z. Sakall
as George

William Demarest
as 1st Detective

Walter Kingsford
as Allison

Montagu Love
as Harrison

Richard Carle
as Oliver

Charles Waldron
as Needles

Edwin Maxwell
as Withers

Edward McNamara
as Police Sergeant

Robert Emmett Keane
as Tom Higgins

Florence Bates
as Customer

Charles Irwin
as 2nd Detective

Matt McHugh
as Sam

Julie Warren
as Dorothy

Ilene Brewer
as Sally (Little Girl)

Betty Brewer
as Sally

Regis Toomey
as 1st Policeman

Pat Moriarity
as 2nd Policeman

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Critic Reviews for The Devil and Miss Jones

Audience Reviews for The Devil and Miss Jones

• Sep 19, 2015

  Talk about your hidden treasures! This film is under the radar for one reason only: character actors Charles Coburn and Spring Byington step from behind the shadow of the leads and take a bite out of the script themselves, and man, what a bite. Not to say that Jean Arthur and Robert Cummings don't do their part, because they do, but the emphasis here is on the old folks for a change, and its a refreshing change. There's also a scene on Coney Island, back when it was the shizzle, and its a wonderful scene for warmly placing you there in the midst of a steaming humanity all trying to cool off. There's a Caprasque story impetus about the problems of the rich versus the poor, along with some liberal solutions to those problems, but what's really nice is about watching folks who are past redemption finding it at the most unexpected time of life. Hope for everyone here. Too bad its only a movie.
  Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
• Sep 05, 2010

  A very cool movie, I think all our corporation owners and top people should follow the main character's example in this movie. I highly recommend this film.
  Aj V Super Reviewer
• Aug 11, 2010

  John P. Merrick (Charles Coburn), a bigtime businessman (the "richest man in the world") is upset that the employees of one of his "small holdings" (a department store) are burning him in effagy, and wants to get to the bottom of things. Rather than sending in a private detective to infiltrate the organizers, he decides to get to investigate the situation himself. Rather than the group of lazy rabble-rousers he expected to find, he's instead greeted by a group of caring and well-meaning individuals who look out for one another. It's something a bit foreign to him, this concept of people liking one another. He's especially bowled over by Miss Jones, an almost saintly figure in comparison to the miserly board members he's used to associating with. Mary Jones (Jean Arthur) seems to be a friend to everyone in the department store, and, under the mistaken impression that Mr. Merrick is a down-and-out tramp who's just found a job, is quick to offer him lots of helpful advice. As Merrick gets a firsthand look at the sort of treatment the average worker gets from the supervisors, he makes little notes in a notebook of DOOM for those who treat him cruelly. Things get complicated when he finds out the chief rabble-rouser is none other than Miss Jones own boyfriend. It's really amazing how quickly Mr. Merrick gets into the persona of a common working man, almost immediately identifying with all the problems facing them (which is a huge jump from the way his character is introduced). As his moral change happens rather quickly, the rest of the movie is sort of a "secret identity" type caper, where Mr. Merrick is constantly on the verge of being discovered. "A madcap comedy of errors", I suppose is the term. While Jean Arthur's charming performance really shines, it's famous character actor Charles Coburn makes this film great. Coburn (1877-1961), who didn't appear in film until the age of 56, also had roles in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and Howard Hawks' "Monkey Business". I don't think he was ever finer than he was here.
  Devon B Super Reviewer

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