Divorce

Kay Francis co-produced and starred in three movies made in 1945 for B-movie studio Monogram pictures, two of which were made with the silent era actor-turned-director William Nigh and the screenwriter Harvey H. Gates, including this movie. I think Francis was having a bit of fun at the expense of her own tarnished Hollywood image by casting herself as a four-times divorced woman (which she would soon be IRL) looking to steal a fifth husband (played by Bruce Cabot) from a happily married friend from her childhood, portrayed by Helen Mack. This movie isn't very good (few pictures from Monogram were), but Kay Francis, after being mistreated by the Warner Brothers studio (for demanding too much money, apparently, ultimately being replaced by an inarguably better actress, Bette Davis), at least was in charge of her own destiny by the mid-1940s; that's something, I guess. 4/10.

DIVORCE (1945) was Monogram's interpretation of the problems of Divorce. This subject that would become very relevant in the post-war period. There were many quickie marriages when the boys went off too war (WWII) that did not hold up after the conflict was over. The general drift of the film was unfavorable to Divorce. No doubt needed to get through the Censors and the Production Code of 1934.

THE NUTS; Returning veteran Bob Phillips (BRUCE CABOT) comes home to loving Wife Martha (HELEN MACK) and adoring Children, Michael and Robby. Enter former flame Diane Carter (KAY FRANCIS) fresh from her Divorce and loaded with loot and connections, promptly using her influence to lure Bob away from Martha. This provokes the titled 'DIVORCE' which finally results in a 'Code' resolution. Film is well done and moves quickly and would not disgrace a 'B' level production from any of the majors or middle tier studios.

MONOGRAM PICTURES CORPORATION (1931-1953) was referred too as a 'poverty row' studio. Cranking out cheap programmers usually budgeted for less then $100,000.00 each and shot in less then two (2) weeks. In some ways they could be consider REPUBLIC Jr. without good musical scores or special visual effects by the LYDECKER Brothers. Nor with any name Stars featured and thats where this film is different.

DIVORCE featured some real (and former) name Stars. KAY FRANCIS, WARNER BROTHERS, BRUCE CABOT and HELEN MACK, RKO. Plus character actors JEROME COWAN, MARY GORDON, JONATHAN HALE, ADDISON RICHARDS and others who appeared in major and middle tier studios efforts. Both in 'A' and 'B' productions. Nobody remember ADDISON RICHARDS as 'Crofton' in NORTHWEST PASSAGE (1940) M.G.M.? The rest have similar impressive credits, check them out. The question to be asked is what did these people do with their money when the going was good so they did not end up at MONOGRAM? Perhaps some of them just liked the work.

This story is about a woman who has been married many times. Kay francis herself had already been married and divorced three times by 1945, so it was pretty good casting. There would still be a stigma attached to divorce in 1945, but the war was ending, the service folks were coming home, so there were probably other things to think about. Co-star bruce cabot was fay wray's love interest in king kong (how did king kong not get any oscars??) in this film, dianne returns to her childhood home town, and seems to spark with the (married) bob phillips. Bob's wife isn't so concerned, but her friends are! Until bob and dianne start spending so much time together in business deals. Then there's a showdown between the two. Co-stars helen mack. It's pretty good, for a monogram pictures film. Directed by bill nigh. He had done five of the mister wong detective films in the 1930s. He started as an actor in the early days of the silent films, started directing pretty quickly. Story by sidney sutherland.

At one time Monogram Pictures could not have afforded the services of the three leads, Kay Francis, Bruce Cabot and Helen Mack. But by 1945 all had seen their best box office days so they were working for Sam Katzman and Monogram.

At least Katzman didn't butcher this film in the editing department. The title says it all, what the subject is about. Bruce Cabot a roughneck contractor fresh home from the war falls for chic society girl Kay Francis who collects trophy husbands. She's had four and wants to make Cabot five.

Only he's slightly married to Helen Mack with two kids. No stopping Kay though as they all end up in Judge Jerome Cowan's Divorce Court.

Given the times and the omnipresent Code, Divorce follows some strict guidelines. Everyone behaves quite heroically and even Francis in the end knows she's following a path that will lead to no good.

It's all pure soap opera, but from Monogram Divorce is positively elegant.

This is not a "bad" movie on divorce it makes it's point- the kids are the real loosers in the process. Overall the movie is well written in the 30's, 40's & 50's style of tying things together for the sake of the work rather than attempting to show "realism". An early shot of Bob Phillips (Bruce Cabot)performing a "Court Marshall" for home discipline comes back to haunt him in his final scene as his two boys act as the judge & jury. I have no problem with Kay Francis in her role as the worldly woman stealing away a restless husband returning from WWII. This was a common theme following the war because it was a common problem (& again to point out it's timeliness- it is still a problem). But for pure acting the one to watch was Helen Mack as Martha Phillips. Her dialog delivery and timing are a delight to watch even when the writing does not quite live up to the best of the "golden age" of movie making.