Stranded

Kay Francis and George Brent star in "Stranded" from 1935, which features Patricia Ellis, Donald Woods, and Barton MacLane.

Francis plays Lynn Palmer, who works for Travelers Aid. And that's where the title of the film comes from. Brent plays Mac Hale, a construction manager for the Golden Gate Bridge who comes to her office looking for one of his workers, whom he thinks might have gone to Salt Lake. He falls for Lynn and the two start dating.

Problems arise when Hale wants to get married, but he also wants Lynn to give up her job. He considers helping "losers" ridiculous and doesn't think they deserve what she does on their behalf. At the same time, a protection racket is trying to get $5000 a month from him, and when he won't agree, starts infiltrating his workers with troublemakers.

This film was an eye-opener for me about Travelers Aid - what a great organization. Francis plays a social worker there - I don't know what I thought Travelers Aid was, but it apparently helps people who are lost, victims of sex trafficking, people with no place to sleep, etc.

Francis is wonderful playing a woman who is warm, compassionate, and efficient. She and Brent have a wonderful scene where she has to take a pregnant mother to the hospital - that's the first stop - and the second is to get foreign brides to their grooms, and the brides spend the trip giggling at Brent.

Brent plays a tough guy, and he does a great job.

Great footage of the Golden Gate Bridge in progress.

Very enjoyable film.

This is a strong drama about two people of unswerving principles. George Brent plays Mack Hale, an engineer tasked with building the Golden Gate Bridge. Kay Francis plays Lynn Palmer, a woman sensitive to the emotional needs of others. When they meet, sparks fly, but they soon realize they cannot compromise their values for a relationship, and theygo their own ways. Besides, he really does not value her work.

Mack is faced with dire problems. There are those who would like him to fail, no matter the collateral damage. He has to fight crime while taking on the dangerous project.

The film has a clever theme and the writing is dynamic and thoughtful. I looked to see if Ayn Rand had a hand in the script (she didn't), because the story feels like something she might write, and its uses some themes common to her novels: the value of good workers, the value of doing good work, a principled approach to life, and the mob versus the individual.

Since the Golden Gate was built between 1933 and 1937, stock footage augments the narrative, providing authenticity. Safety really was an issue during construction, and the film uses that real concern to magnify the drama.

Ever read George Brent's bio? He fled Ireland with a price on his head. It was reputed that he was a member of the IRA Active Service Unit, though he claimed he was simply a courier for Michael Collins. Dashing background, eh? More than his character here, the foreman of the team building the Golden Gate Bridge (more dashing glamor). But in this humble role, Brent positively shines as a comedic talent. Romancing Kay Francis, and fending off protection racketeers, he flies through the movie with apparent ease, making acting as they say "look easy." The scene when he takes Francis out for a date, and ends up chaperoning around four mail order brides and an unwed mother is hilarious -- his double takes are marvelous. One day, Warner will release this, and a new generation can appreciate George Brent.

STRANDED would be more aptly named THE GOLDEN GATE. There is some fascinating footage of the actual construction of the bridge and it adds to the excitement as the drama unfolds. George Brent is solid as the foreman on the construction job -- trying to keep his men in line and up against gangsters who want pay-off for "protection". George meets Kay Francis who plays with her usual self-assurance and grace as a Traveler's Aid worker.

Francis' role focuses on a compassionate look at the assimilation of foreign brides, assisting "lost" elders and children at the train depot. Her role also shows an understanding for the problems of unwed mothers. Francis' has a natural knack for making it all plausible -- she believes in her work and her role and is wonderful to watch. The surprise ending is a real switch from the usual 1930-60's fare as far as male-female roles are concerned.

Lots of great character actors show up: Ann Shoemaker, Robert Barrett, Frankie Darro, Henry O'Neil, Barton MacLane. Borgaze's direction and Delmer Daves pen add some nice comic touches keeping the drama light.

In San Francisco, attractive travelers' aid Kay Francis (as Lynn Palmer) meets superintendent George Brent (as Mack Hale), nine years after he gave her a "first kiss" (she claims she was 15 years old). The two are mutually attracted, although Ms. Frances is dating handsome Donald Woods (as John Wesley) and her new roommate Patricia Ellis (as Velma Tuthill) gives Mr. Brent those "come hither" looks. Brent is overseeing the city's new "Golden Gate Bridge" project, which is threatened by crooked Barton MacLane (as Sharkey) and his gang. The racketeers mean danger for Francis, her new relationship, and the Golden Gate Bridge...

Screenplay writer Delmer Daves' adaptation features a good setting, nicely unfolded by director Frank Borzage and the crew at Warner Bros. We begin with an innocent little girl traveling alone, who offers to share her Hershey's chocolate bar with a Black man and is kissed by another complete stranger. This falsely idealized and glamorized world prevails, but we see interesting contrasts develop and heavier themes explored, involving immigrants and alcohol. The usually glamorized gangsters take a back seat to the parallel concerns of industry and big business represented by Brent, coupled with charity and workers' rights represented by Francis...

The worlds are connected by unemployed young Frankie Darro (as James "Jimmy" Rivers), who probably should have been included in the opening pictorial credits, considering his role. Alas, the film wraps everything up too quickly.

****** Stranded (6/19/35) Frank Borzage ~ Kay Francis, George Brent, Patricia Ellis. Frankie Darro