Stranded

Just saw this on Turner, and was pleasantly surprised.

I've never seen it mentioned in articles about Kay Francis, but it's one of her most likable roles. She looks great, as always, but she's more than a clothes-horse, and there's more to her character than her love life.

Remarkably, this is one of the rare 1930s "independent woman" films in which the woman stays independent and strong while remaining feminine in the best sense of that word.

Also interesting is the extensive footage of the building of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. That footage might have been just "filler" in another movie, but it fits right in here.

Definitely recommended!

Solid romantic drama with Kay Francis as a volunteer at Travelers Aid and George Brent as a construction manager at the Golden Gate Bridge (which didn't open until 1937) showcases the breezy charm of two top stars.

The stars live for their jobs but romance is difficult since each one is on call 24 hours a day. Brent's job is complicated by a protection racket run by Barton MacLane, and Francis' job is complicated by a spoiled heiress (Patricia Ellis) she gets stuck with because her mother donates so much money to Travelers Aid. It gets even more complicated when Ellis takes a shine to Brent.

Lots of good supporting players here: Ann Shoemaker, John Wray, Robert Barrat, Zeffie Tilbury, June Travis, Donald Woods, Gavin Gordon, Frankie Darro, Spencer Charters, Mary Forbes, Sarah Padden, Paul Panzer, Joseph Crehan.

Easy to see why Kay Francis was a top star of the time.

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.

... before she was even well known! The outline makes this romantic movie sound like it could be a heavy melodrama: Mack Hale (George Brent) is a self-made construction engineer with no soft edges working on the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge - no person will get in the way of the construction of this monument. Lynn Palmer (Kay Francis) is a social worker with the Traveler's Aid Society - no monument will get in the way of her helping people. These two knew each other years ago when Lynn was 15 and renew their friendship and romance when Mack comes to the Traveler's Aid looking for one of his ace employees (Robert Barat as Stanislaus Janauschek) who has a bad habit of buying a train ticket back to Chicago to see his wife every time he gets drunk.

After the two begin dating, Mack begins to resent the fact that Lynn is constantly having their dates interrupted by this or that emergency at Traveler's Aid, and tells her that she is wasting her time trying to help people who "had their chance in life and couldn't cut it". Only when Mack is facing being ousted as construction engineer due to a protection racket that is causing trouble among his workers does he suddenly realize that no man is an island and everyone can use some help now and again. Although, like the congressman who suddenly becomes a champion of improving prison conditions after he goes to jail, his transformation seems a bit self-serving.

As in their other films, Kay and George have wonderful chemistry from the moment they are first on screen together. The film does give Kay an excuse for her gorgeous fashions and spacious apartment considering she is a social worker probably getting minor renumeration in exchange for her hard work - She has an independent income and is free to choose how she spends her time.

One of the most humorous scenes in the film is when Lynn is supposed to be on a date with Mack and she has to make "a few stops" first on behalf of her job. The two end up sharing a car with four giggling immigrant brides Lynn must deliver to their grooms and an expectant mother who has been abandoned by her husband that Lynn must take to the maternity hospital, with Mack's impatient comments being hilarious.

This is one of Kay Francis' most likable roles as she deals sympathetically with all of the poor souls tossed about by the Depression, and could have been one of Brent's most unlikeable ones, but like Lynn, the audience realizes underneath all of that bluster is a good person just waiting to get out. I highly recommend this little programmer for fans of films of the 1930's.

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.