Sa vie secrète

Who else but Kay Francis has the ability to draw viewers into a contrived bit of make-believe and have it seem like a genuine Shakespearean tragedy? There is a scene in this picture where she glimpses her son's picture, after having given him up, that could make a stone cry. Miss Francis' talents for the melodramatic combine nicely with Roland Young's sardonic wit and with Frieda Inescort's gentle humility. Meanwhile, George Brent is on hand as the love interest, as he is in so many of the actress' pictures. His presence helps to balance the tears with just the right amount of testosterone and sex appeal.

This is a wonderful example of Classic Hollywood soap opera with the elegant Kay Francis giving a truly heartfelt performance. Kay appears (not too convincingly at first, but she gets much better as the movie goes along) as a young, naive English girl who becomes impregnated by a titled gentleman (Patrick Knowles). He, being the callow character he is, already has an invalid wife (beautifully played by Freida Inescourt) who cannot bear a child. Kay allows his aristocratic family "adopt" her baby and she runs off to America to forget. Being a classic weeper, she of course does not forget, even though she is married to George Brent (who really is pretty good here). Eventually, a faithful friend (Roland Young who enlivens the proceedings with needed humor) conspire to bring closure to her heartache by bring the real mother and "adopted mother" together for a tearful, yet satisfying, ending.

It plays a lot better on film than it does in print and I'm sure I am not doing it justice. All I know is that it is joyously irresistible and very moving. Kay Francis received a lot of mixed reviews for her performance at that time, but I think that she is splendid- truly an underrated actress from that period and worthy of watching!

After a child-producing European affair, attractive socialite Kay Francis (as Belinda "Bill" aka "Linda" Warren) woefully returns to New York. On the train, she meets wealthy and attentive George Brent (as James "Jim" Baker). They are married, but Ms. Francis is haunted by her past. Francis' little secret adversely affects her relationship with Mr. Brent. Two years later, Francis' globe-trotting friend Roland Young (as Edward "Tubbs" Barron) arranges for Francis and her husband to meet former lover Patric Knowles (as Robert "Bob" Melford), his wife Frieda Inescort (as Rosamond Melford), and their collective son...

Though faltering as Florence Nightingale in "The White Angel" (1936), Francis reasserts some box office appeal by treading more familiar waters; she attained a respectable #15 position for the year 1936, in the annual exhibitors' poll conducted for "Boxoffice" magazine...

Tailor-made for Francis, this short-lived Broadway production (by Jay Mallory) revisits a tried and true story. The subjects are treated with more respect than was prevalent at the time, although it's not ground-breaking. Best of the episodic scenes is the confrontation between husbands and wives. The short, less starry performances of Mr. Knowles and Ms. Inescort are especially effective. The subplot involving Mr. Hobbes' interest in alcohol and doctor Helen Flint (as Florence "Bones" Cudahy) is strange and unsatisfying. Veteran actors like Henry Stephenson add credence.

***** Give Me Your Heart (9/17/36) Archie Mayo ~ Kay Francis, George Brent, Roland Young, Patric Knowles

Kay Francis glides through this most engaging soap opera in a succession of elegant Orry-Kelly creations in which everyone behaves well and director Archie Mayo manages adroitly to combine adultery and childbirth outside marriage without incurring the wrath of the Hays Office.

(I originally saw this film on TNT a quarter of a century ago and have affectionately recalled ever since the subplot involving the befriending by Roland Young as 'Tubbs' of Helen Flint as Dr.Cudahy, who he thereafter amiably addresses as 'Bones'.)

Kay Francis stars in "Give Me Your Heart," along with George Brent, Roland Young, Henry Stephenson, Patric Knowles, and Frieda Inescourt.

Francis is Belinda Warren, seeing a married man, Robert (Knowles) whose wife (Inescourt) is an invalid. Belinda learns she is pregnant, and.confides in an old friend, Tubbs (Young).

Robert's father (Stephenson) is Lord Farrington, and he convinces Belinda that it's best that she give the baby up so that Robert and his wife can adopt the child.

This means, of course, that Belinda has to go away - on the train, she meets Jim (George Brent). Skip to later, and the two are married.

Their marriage is rocky because Belinda can't forget the child she gave up, but she has never told Jim about her past. Then one day, Tubbs shows up, and he wants to help.

Several people mentioned that this film shows better when you're watching it than when you describe it in print. That's because the characters all have great chemistry with one another, and the acting is wonderful.

Young is a delight and provides much of the humorous dialogue. Stephenson displays warmth when speaking with Belinda and gives an excellent performance.

Francis, in Orry-Kelly outfits, is stunning, and she and Brent make a strong screen team, as they have in other films.

This is a very touching film, with true feelings shown by all the characters. One of Kay's best.