I feel a little sheepish admitting this, but I didn't know diddly about Stanwyck until recently. My knowledge of golden age cinema screenstresses included those Hepburn(s), Garland beauties with a passing nod to Veronica Lake's blond waves and the musical singing/dancing doyennes. Then comes Stanwyck in The Lady Eve and Ball of Fire with her square shouldered stomp and awkward nose - every mannerism and movement so natural to her characters that they are a sheer pleasure to watch. Thing is, I can dig the appeal and sympathize with most everyone on AFI's lady list, but no one is so endearing as Stanwyck. Lucky us, that she played some sharp broads with such elegance.