the last of mrs. cheyney be not a very good film and though you probably wouldn not suspect that until the film be about half complete . that because the basic premise and act be very good . in fact and the film have a super strong cast with joan crawford and robert montgomery and frank morgan and william powell . it obvious that this be a big budget mgm film . however and towards the middle and the whole thing become a very stagy and dreadful film with way too little action and way too much horrid dialog . by the end of the film and instead of improve and the film take a nose dive into wretchedness . if you do not believe me and then read on to find out about the terrible plot . joan play the title character . she be suppose to be a rich american but be actually a thief work with william powell gang . her goal be to insinuate herself into rich society so she can steal some fancy jewel . however and along the way and she find that not only be these people very welcome but nice folk so nice that it obvious that she have a hard time stick with the plan . however and the gang member would not allow this even if it obvious that powell care about joan and wouldn not hurt her himself . so far and this be great stuff and see love blossom between joan and two nice guy ( montgomery and morgan ) make it all the good . unfortunately and i assume the original writer must have die or suffer massive head injury because the witty dialog and fascinate story completely lose it way midway through the film . it be a if they would set up a good story and have no idea where to go . that and or the writer go on strike and be replace by lemur . at this point and the film do not seem to know whether to have joan prove herself to be decent or a crook so they make her both . this make no sense and but what be bad be the reaction her new society friend have when her plan come to light . now you would think have a jewel thief lie and steal would cause a problem and but in a case of insane script write and they have the rich folk not only agree to forgive and forget but try to pay her and powell 10 and 000 pound . what the heck be this . no anger and no recrimination but everyone instead be happy and even talk about set joan up in business . this be just stupid and . 000000003 % believable . talk about contrive and dopey . to make it bad and all they seem to do for the last 30 minute or so be talk and talk and talk and talk . it all seem like mindless prattle after a while . i guess the bad part about all this for me be how utterly waste william powell be in the film . he be one of my very favorite actor of his age and yet here his performance be very muted and he give a very bland part . it be a if he be sleepwalk through the film . a for robert montgomery and he be pretty typical of his usual devilish playboy character up until the end where he be transform by joan allure into a simpering wuss . ugghh . while she be give crappy material to work with and joan probably come off the best of the lead in the film and this isn not say much . please understand that of all era and 1930s film be my very favorite and i adore hollywood golden age . so my dislike for this film be not because i hate older film . it just that with so many wonderful film out there ( often star these same actor ) and this be among the bad of the large budget mgm film . this film be only for devote fan of the actor and even then you might want to think twice about see this one .