Ventura Roubada

Actually the stolen holiday of the title is only a small part of the film and is, quite frankly, a little boring and holds up the action. I found myself longing for it to finish and get back to the main plot! Fine performances from Kay, Claude Rains and Alison Skipworth, and Ian Hunter is his usual debonair self. Also, in a small part, Alexander D'Arcy (he of "The Awful Truth" fame).

Some of the strongest scenes are in the early parts of the movie, especially when Kay Francis almost arrogantly descends the staircase at a grand reception she is giving, and, seemingly ignoring everybody, manages to turn every head in the place with the new creation she is wearing! Marvellous!! To the best of my knowledge this movie has never been shown on British TV.

So, over here at least, a forgotten film worth investigating.

Better than average Kay Francis picture. Thanks to a stronger script than was usually handed to her as well as a superior co-star in Claude Rains this swindle drama moves along at a nice clip assisted by that master of any genre, Michael Curtiz.

Of course this wouldn't be a Kay vehicle if they didn't slap one amazing outfit after another on her back and she wears them with the same effortless grace and elegance she always exhibited.

The story isn't terribly inventive but Kay and Claude have a good chemistry which works to the advantage of making the film more involving than it would be. It's nice to see her matched with an artist of equal skill to hers instead of the usual bland leading men such as George Brent and Alan Dinehart she was often teamed with.

This was one of the last good films she made as queen of the lot before her feud with the brothers Warner caused them to start sticking her in any piece of low rent junk to get her to walk on her contract.

Pleasant little film and not too demanding.

Claude Rains, Kay Francis and Alison Skipworth are very good, as as some of the ensemble cast. The weak link, as pointed out by reviewer 'Oriel', is Ian Hunter (37 but looking older) as the object of Kay Francis' romantic entanglement. Rather insipid and unconvincing. Alexander D'Arcy (who plays Leon) would have been more appealing.

Don't expect too much. The story hums along fairly well, but the interludes with Kay Francis and Ian Hunter drag.

Fans of Claude Rains and Kay Francis shouldn't miss this one. It has its weaknesses--the romantic lead (Ian Hunter) is simply not as interesting as the devilish Rains--but it's tremendous fun nonetheless. The opening sequences may be the strongest: independent model Kay Francis meets the dashing but underhanded Claude Rains under strange circumstances, and the two form an unlikely partnership. The scenes between these two are the highlight of the film.

In a great supporting role as Francis's best friend and Rains's severest critic, acid-tongued Alison Skipworth is hysterical. And I love the elegant and often eccentric fashions spotlighted by the movie in the fashion show sequences. For me, the interest only flags during the "stolen holiday" of the title--a forced romantic idyll between Francis and Hunter. When Rains starts scheming and Francis starts suffering, that's when the movie really cooks. You'll have your work cut out for you finding this movie, but it's worth seeking out.

Kay Francis is in more mediocre to crappy films than any good actor I know. This is yet another whose only reason for existence is so director Michael Curtiz can make visual love to her while she wanders around studio backlot Paris, modeling gowns. (Actually, I can think of worse reasons to make a movie. Better ones, too). Give it a C. PS...Claude Rains did not get the memo re the inadvisability of having one's leading man at least 6 inches shorter than his leading lady.