Women in the Wind

Only a couple years before this film was made, Kay Francis was the highest paid and most prestigious actress at Warner Brothers. However, with the improving stature of Bette Davis in recent years, Warners decided to cut Francis loose--she was just too expensive in their eyes to justify keeping her. So here we have Kay at the end of her Warner contract consigned to star in a B-movie--my how the mighty have fallen! Ironically, she was now making the same type films David had been making when Francis was in her heyday. Soon after finishing this film, Francis landed at poverty row studio Monogram where she finished up her career. Despite being a B (and a not particularly distinguished one at that), Francis did try her best and I must applaud her for acting like a real trooper!

The film begins with a fat-headed pilot setting a speed record in a plane that obviously could not have set a record in the late 30s (by then, biplanes just couldn't match the speeds of monoplanes). Kay's brother, a famous pilot, is in need of an operation and she thinks that if she can convince the fat-head to let her borrow his plane, she can win a women's air race. Well, the guy actually agrees but the plan falls through when his conniving ex-wife shows up and announces that their Mexican divorce isn't legal and she takes the plane. So, we have poor old Francis and her brother left in the cold. Will plucky Kay get another plane and win the race to give her brother that needed operation? What do you think!!!???

From the description above, you might think that the plot sure sounds clichéd--and you'd be right. Despite this and a generally weak script, the film is still fun and blessedly short. While far from a "must-see" film, it is worth a peek if you are a Kay Francis fan or if you like airplane films. Otherwise, it's not a bad idea to skip this one.

After an evening of Kay Francis floating through a series of flat "A" levels (ANOTHER DAWN; FIRST LADY; CONFESSION), where often even the scenery steals scenes from her, and especially after enjoying her Pre-Code hey-day (DR. MONICA; MARY STEVENS, MD; TROUBLE IN PARADISE; ONE WAY PASSAGE), it was gratifying to see the old fire spitting and sputtering through the John Farrow-directed WOMEN IN THE WIND. Francis, despite her name appearing below the title, a reliable if second-tier cast, and an oddly frumpy, figure-obscuring wardrobe, carries the picture along with cheery confidence and yes, a little more fire than you'd come to expect. Ravishing Kay holds her own, even against scene-thief Eve Arden, here playing an oft-married bon-aviatrix named "Kit" Campbell, the great sport, heroic long-distance pilot, complete with silk scarf and confident swagger. They may have tried everything to discourage her at Warners, but Kay Francis is unequivocally running this game. There is even a third strong actress given a generous amount of screen time, Sheila Bromley, a tough cookie whom you probably saw in some 1950s sit-coms playing tough cookies (JOAN DAVIS SHOW; I LOVE LUCY). Here Bromley gets to sink her chops into the stock "First Wife-Other Woman" road hazard, providing personally supervised obstacles for ex-hub (William Gargan), Francis, and all the WOMEN IN THE WIND put together. Lots of Warners' actresses - Ann Sheridan, Jane Wyman, Carole Hughes, Gloria Dickson, Lola Lane, Marcia Ralston - could have easily played this role, but it's a treat to watch Bromley - an actress who reminded me of the young, cocky Bette Davis of the "I'd love to kiss ya..."days. The lead is handled by William Gargan, an actor who had great Pat O'Brien-style charm, which here he uses sparingly, spending a large portion of the tale glowering. Too bad he's sort of dull and annoying while he glowers, because he's playing a guy named Ace Boreman. As comic relief, Maxie Rosenbloom has a nice, easy-going, laid-back style -- untrained with good instincts, and quite welcome in this film. And Eddie Foy, Jr., Frankie Burke, Frank Faylen, Vera Lewis, and Spencer Charters are all on hand to do good work in a highly entertaining tale that holds the interest. Footage of circa aircraft is actually as entertaining as any aspect of the picture, there's not one dull shot.

Kay Francis is one of the "Women in the Wind" in this 1939 film centering around a female pilot flying contest. Kay plays Janet Steele, whose brother was a famous pilot until crippled in a flying accident. She wants money to hire a specialist, so being a good pilot herself, she decides to enter a flying contest for women where the reward is $15,000. She approaches recent flying record-winner Ace Boreman (William Gargan) for his plane, Polly. She finally convinces him to let her use it when what he thinks is his ex-wife Frieda (Sheila Bromley) steps in and tells him their divorce isn't legal, the plane is hers, and she's flying it in the race. All Janet knows is that Ace reneged; what she doesn't find out is that gets an even better plane for her to fly - it's set up so that she doesn't know it's from him. The race is on.

This is a good movie, nicely directed by John Farrow and well above the dreck Warners handed Francis to get her to quit. The cast is good and includes Eddie Foy, Frank Faylen and Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom in smaller roles. Eve Arden does a lively job as a friend and competitor in the race. Gargan was famous when I was growing up because he had a laryngectomy - interesting guy - he does okay here, but it's nothing special. Victor Jory plays Janet's boyfriend, a doctor who is encouraging her to hire the specialist.

All in all, pretty good, and Francis does her usual terrific job.

Most of six previous reviewers - yes, only six - spend time bemoaning that this is only a B movie, and suggest that the shorter length made it a waste of Kay Francis' time and talent. Unless you're a big KF fan - I'm not - that shouldn't bother you here. No, she doesn't get to wear a lot of extravagant gowns, and her character is not glamorous. If that's what you watch a Kay Francis movie for, this will really disappoint you.

The first 40 of the just past 60 minutes are uninteresting melodrama, based largely on one of the most annoying devices in movie dramadom: the character who doesn't finish their explanation of some misunderstanding, allowing that misunderstanding to continue for another character. Suffice it to say that it's about two women who love, or loved, one man, and the jealousy that results.

The last 20 minutes is the air race in biplanes solo-piloted by women (Francis and her rival, Sheila Bromley) from California to Cleveland. I was hoping that somewhere in there Warner Brothers might have used some real female aviators from the era (yes, aviatrixes, or whatever the plural is). Evidently not. More's the shame.

We do get to see some period bi-planes, which is mildly interesting.

The race ends in Cleveland, where we see mountains in the distance behind the airport. I wonder what became of those mountains??? Guess who wins the race.

Women in the Wind is an enjoyable movie that is briskly paced and features some interesting airplane sequences. Don't expect a strong story or deep characterization, though, just a good time at the movies. Besides, with Kay Francis in it how can you go wrong?