Kay Francis - Her Day on TCM: I am savoring each one----Known for her beauty and clothes, she had a great success with designers and worked with them to get the fit and look just right.
And she is remembered. And her critics? Well, we always have cats and dogs ----
This week I watched:
Jewel Robbery(1932) Kay Francis, William Powell. Pre-code with lots of naughty things going on, like smoking hashish, affairs, and assorted things to shock the natives. But it is a lot of fun. Powell's slick robber woos society lady. Their first encounter is like a lightning strike.
And we're in on the fun as the last scene, at the Jewelry store and robbery, as the cops scurry after the thief over the rooftops, has Kay turning to the camera as she says to her husband "My nerves. I must get away. The Riviera! Nice' - on tomorrow's first train." And gives us a delightfully wicked smile as she gives the shush! sign to the audience.
What a joy. I'm keeping it just for the fun she's having. Makes me giggle. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023074/
One Way Passage (1932) Kay, William Powell, Aline MacMahon, Frank McHugh. Joan is terminally ill and Dan is handcuffed to a detective taking him back to San Quentin where he faces hanging. On shipboard out of HongKong they meet and have a instant rapport. Two grifters on board help Don, but things seem to conspire to fail at every turn. One of the better "matinee' ladies' films pre-code. Of course, Kay has a wonderful wardrobe and a different outfit for every scene. The ladies sitting in the audience in their 'good dress' loved her and her doomed romances. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023305/
Mary Stevens, M. D. (1933) Kay, Lyle Talbot, Glenda Farrell, Thelma Todd. Kay(Mary) and Lyle(Don) graduate from medical school and set up practice in the same building, remaining good friends. Mary makes her reputation as a skilled and caring doctor. Don goes the society route, marrying a wealthy woman and disappearing into that life. On a vacation years later, Don and Mary run into each other and have a romance. Pre-code has this a bit more frank about what is going on. A good drama. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024307/
The Keyhole (1933) Kay, George Brent, Glenda Farrell, Allen Jenkins. In this one Kay has married a second time to a millionaire much older than she is, but learns her former husband and dancing partner, never followed through on their divorce. Now he is blackmailing her. Her sister-in-law devises a plan to get hubby # 1 out of the country so they can have his passport revoke by their good friends in the government. Meanwhile, hubby #2 is jealous and hires a private eye to follow her on her trip by boat to Havana, and report what she does every day. Big mistake. Brent, as the gumshoe, is all debonair charm and he and Kay enjoy the trip a little more than they are supposed to for a.spy and spyee. Kay has a fabulous wardrobe, and Farrell and Jenkins lending their wisecracks to the proceedings. For the early 30's, this was what those shop girls and housewives wanted when they got a night out at the movies. Kay, romance and gorgeous clothes. Troubles melted away for a few hours. 8/10
More Kay Francis on the DVR to savor later.
Still hot and dry here in the Heartland. Hate to go out and crunch through the grass, trying to keep the trees and shrubs alive. With the horrible weather and politics, it makes movies with Kay the only refuge.
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