I have said it before and I will say it again, there is no such thing as a mediocre ( let alone bad) Gary Cooper western. I Take This Woman, which is a modern day (1931) Western falls into the excellent category, and it was available on Roku ( I noticed it got taken off the next day ( obviously someone at Universal ( who owns the rights to Pre 1946 Paramount films was not happy)). I can tell you I was not the least bit disappointed in it, and I have been wanting to see it for decades. It is about spoiled heiress Kay Dowling ( Carole Lombard), who marries cowhand Tom McNair ( Cooper), and their life together. Lombard does not play the nicest character in Kay, but she is basically unloved by her father who wants her to marry someone she does not love so you understand why she is the way she is. Cooper ( by far) is the stronger character, he has a plan to make a life for him and Kay but it requires sacrifice ( something that Kay does not want to do and instead goes back to her prior life in New York). He goes after her but finally gives up, and will grant her a divorce (on the grounds of abandonment) to save her from embarrassment. He loved her that much that he was willing to take the blame for the marriage failing. Spoilers ahead: She then goes to see him in the rodeo and sees him get injured when thrown off a horse. She is finally able to convince him that she loves him and is happier being poor at the ranch then wealthy in New York. Finally, I read comments from a poster asking why Tom took her back? The reasons are 1: He loved her unconditionally. 2: Kay finally grew up, and became willing to make sacrifices such as giving up her previous lifestyle ( her father cut her off when she married Tom) . Character growth is always good in a story. Last but certainly not least, I know there are a lot of comparisons to a later Cooper film ( The Cowboy and the Lady with Merle Oberon), but this is a much different film. There the father Horace Smith of Mary Smith ( Oberon) loves his daughter ( and sacrifices a chance to be President for Mary's happiness), unlike Mr. Dowling here who rarely even gets out of his chair. It is also a comedy while this is a drama, and this is a much better movie. I am really happy that Cooper pre-code westerns are finally becoming available ( I just need to see Wolf Song and The Spoilers to finish the entire Cooper list ( Arizona Bound sad to say is lost)). Easy 10/10 stars and a must for Cooper and ( or) Lombard fans.
Review of I Take This Woman
