Play Girl

Kay Francis is a "Play Girl" in this 1941 film that was yet another attempt by Warner Bros. to get rid of the expensive Francis, though none of their ploys worked. Here, they've lent her to another studio, RKO.

Francis plays Grace Herbert, a woman who has lived her life as a gold-digger, except now she's getting too old to dig and no one wants to give her any gold. She meets a young woman, Mildred (Ellen Daley) and teaches her the gold-digging game, with the idea that the young woman will actually get married to someone wealthy, something that Grace never did. But Mildred's conscience takes a hit.

One of the best things about this film is that one of the marks is a rich guy from Chicago, played by the very British Nigel Bruce. Just goes to show you the attention paid to the casting.

It's not a great film, but Francis makes it more than palatable, and it's a pleasant way to pass the time. Worth seeing for Francis.

The biggest of this film's many stupidities, of course, is trying to convince the viewer that sexy, 30 something Kay Francis is over the hill, man wise.

If you were to take this film too seriously, you could muse on whether it featured female empowerment or sexism. The former, because the women are strong and independent and run rings round the men and the latter because the women are depicted as gold diggers using their feminine charms to ensnare men and fleece them of their money. Also you might baulk at a scene involving a lecherous middle aged man trying to make a move on a teenage girl, but in reality this is a breezy comedy with a short running time that engages and amuses thanks to its superb cast. Front and centre are a triptych of women played by Kay Francis, Mildred Coles and Margaret Hamilton all of whom excel and represent the spring, summer and autumn of womanhood turning from one season to another. Francis is the lead, a woman who specialises in getting out of court settlements for breach of contract from foolish gentlemen who are led by their loins. Coles is her young protégé being groomed as her successor and Hamilton (ever to be remembered as The Wizard of Oz's terrifying wicked witch of the west) is their personal assistant and cohort. Francis and Hamilton have some fine comic moments and Coles and Francis also have some dramatically well executed material. This is mostly a film that showcases the women of the cast but G. P Huntley is fun as one of the duped gentlemen and Nigel Bruce is an absolute delight in partnership with Huntley and in his scenes with the principal females. Endearing, funny, watchable and at the height of his powers when you consider his other roles around this period in Rebecca, Suspicion and The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Warner Brothers continued its campaign to get Kay Francis to break her contract not just by lowering the quality of her vehicles, not just by loading her dialogue with 'r's or putting her in horse operas, but now by lending her out to other studios. She was the highest-priced actress on the Warner's lot and they didn't want her any more. But she was not going to give up that contract.

In this lend-out to RKO, Miss Francis, as usual, gives a wonderful performance. In fact, given the cast of minor players -- including a few long-time favorites of mine like Nigel Bruce and Kane Richmond -- and they give fine performances too, even if we are expected to believe Mr. Bruce hails from Chicago, in this minor comedy. It's about a professional adventuress who is getting a lot too old to play wealthy men for suckers. It's a little slow-starting, but by the half-way mark, it is moving along at a good clip. Definitely worth your while.

A Lake Placid skiing trip ends poorly for gold-digging Kay Francis (as Grace Herbert) when she fails to obtain any money from handsome young Kane Richmond (as Don). Wise-cracking companion Margaret Hamilton (as Josie) advises Ms. Francis to give up her routine of obtaining financial settlements from wealthy playboys. The women go to Miami and meet curvy young Mildred Coles (as Ellen Daley). Realizing her age is no longer an asset, Francis teaches Ms. Coles the "escort" profession. Complications occur when Coles shows real interest in handsome cowboy James Ellison (as Thomas "Tom" Dice)...

This appears to be a cleaned-up story about upper-class prostitution, topped off with an unanswered question about the relationship between Francis and Ms. Hamilton. It's very allegorical, consisting of $50,000 kisses planted with all the passion of a grandmother. Doubtful such exchanges would result in either the cash or scandal insinuated. Nicely playing her age, Francis and director Frank Woodruff make it work. Hamilton is great. Nigel Bruce (as William McDonald Vincent) amuses as a Chicago native who picked up an accent abroad. And, Katharine Alexander (as Mrs. Dice) helps during a pivotal scene.

****** Play Girl (1/29/41) Frank Woodruff ~ Kay Francis, James Ellison, Mildred Coles, Nigel Bruce, Margaret Hamilton