Play Girl

If you were to take this film too seriously, you could muse on whether it featured female empowerment or sexism. The former, because the women are strong and independent and run rings round the men and the latter because the women are depicted as gold diggers using their feminine charms to ensnare men and fleece them of their money. Also you might baulk at a scene involving a lecherous middle aged man trying to make a move on a teenage girl, but in reality this is a breezy comedy with a short running time that engages and amuses thanks to its superb cast. Front and centre are a triptych of women played by Kay Francis, Mildred Coles and Margaret Hamilton all of whom excel and represent the spring, summer and autumn of womanhood turning from one season to another. Francis is the lead, a woman who specialises in getting out of court settlements for breach of contract from foolish gentlemen who are led by their loins. Coles is her young protégé being groomed as her successor and Hamilton (ever to be remembered as The Wizard of Oz's terrifying wicked witch of the west) is their personal assistant and cohort. Francis and Hamilton have some fine comic moments and Coles and Francis also have some dramatically well executed material. This is mostly a film that showcases the women of the cast but G. P Huntley is fun as one of the duped gentlemen and Nigel Bruce is an absolute delight in partnership with Huntley and in his scenes with the principal females. Endearing, funny, watchable and at the height of his powers when you consider his other roles around this period in Rebecca, Suspicion and The Hound of the Baskervilles.