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A Major Disappointment

After Kay Francis retired from films, she was recognized. "Aren't you Kay Francis?" someone asked. She answered, "I was." Certainly no one had risen higher than Francis and had stuck it out, even when Warners filled her scripts with words that had 'r' in them to play up her speech impediment, and even when she could only get roles at studios like Monogram and Republic. Tough isn't the word.Here she's at the height of her career, very glamorous, in "The Goose and the Gander," from 1935. Besides Francis, the film features George Brent, Geraldine Tobin, John Eldredge, and Claire Dodd.At a party, Georgiana (Francis), whose husband left her for another woman, overhears that woman (Tobin) planning a weekend affair with another man (Brent).Georgiana puts together an complicated plot whereby the cheaters wind up at her house, and her ex comes over and catches them. The situation that brought them to her house (too complex to go into - it concerns no gas and a quarantine) brings another couple to her door - jewel thieves!As others have pointed out, this was probably written during the precode era and rewritten to meet the Code. The only thing that confused me is that Brent and Tobin were going to spend the weekend together and present themselves to Georgiana as a married couple. So she naturally puts them in one bedroom. Tobin has a fit and forces Brent out onto the roof! What were they planning on doing on this weekend? Play cards? It made no sense, even though it was funny.Very cute comedy, and Brent looks quite handsome. Nice to see Francis in something besides a turgid melodrama. She not only suffered well, but she had a nice comedic style.

Kay Francis is Ralph Forbes' ex-wife, because Genevieve Tobin stole him away from her. But, when Kay meets Ralph after two years apart and sees his wife with another man, she gets it in her mind to trap her and force the wife out of the marriage, so Kay can get Ralph back. But the other man just so happens to be George Brent, who sees Kay at a fancy party and appears to like what he sees. She, too, but maybe just to be playing with him. The plan is to get him and the wife at her country place, where she asked her ex to show up for lunch, thereby putting them all in an awkward situation. But, what she doesn't count on is John Eldridge and Claire Dodd, a married couple who are jewel thieves and who must make a quick getaway. Because they stole Genevieve's car, they are brought to Kay's place. (Watch it to understand.) When they're all together, things happen. The film's quick one-liners and the chemistry of Kay and George make this feel like a guilty pleasure, especially since Kay is great at being enticing. How can such a funny and fulfilling picture be so unknown? If you've never heard of The Goose and the Gander, then you need to discover Ms. Kay Francis at her sizzling best.

I happened across this film as it aired on TCM, and I found myself unable to stop watching. I've never been a great fan of Kay Francis, but this is delightfully entertaining. It fits in with those zany, intricate plots of 1930s comedies with mistaken identities, multiple couples, and all a "to-do" with the wealthy upper classes...fitting right in with the usual Depression Era escapist fare - which I admit I usually enjoy!Others' reviews give one enough of an idea of the plot and the context behind the making of the film. All I want to add is that for those that may want to acquire this film, TCM is now providing it from their TCM Vaults (Warners Archive). Visit WWW.TCM.COM for more...

This is the best of the Kay Francis vehicles, and I had never heard of it before a couple days ago.Kay is stylish, George Brent actually looks handsome. And there is a real plot, not just cutesy and/or tear-jerking posturing.Married couples, formerly married couples. And -- a couple who are jewel thieves.It zings along and is great, amusing, romantic fun.