Out in the Far East, formerly rich Ricardo Cortez sells mistress Kay Francis and her extensive wardrobe to nightclub owner Warner Oland. After making enough money, er, hostessing and a spot of trimming police commissioner Reginald Owen, she picks up drunk doctor Lyle Talbot and reforms him (no, really). But as they re sailing up the San Joaquin River to Stockton (it's supposed to be the Irawaddy), up pops Cortez.
I've seen it before, but have no memory of it, and the reason is apparent; it's a hash of pre-code tropes, with Miss Francis in her usual immense assort of costume changes. It's why for decades she was decried as having no particular talent, just a clothes horse with a speech impediment. It a slur, of course, even if Warner Brothers occasionally gave her a vehicle in which she was just that, someone for Orry-Kelly to put beautiful clothes on, for an uncredited singer to sing a song while Miss Francis lip-synched to it, and for Thomas Pratt to work his editing magic on. It's certainly watchable and more. Looking at the credits for this movie, it's clear that the Warners knew what a winner they had in Miss Francis, and spent their money freely on her vehicles. I was fascinated while watching it. But it's piffle, and derivative piffle at that.
I've seen it before, but have no memory of it, and the reason is apparent; it's a hash of pre-code tropes, with Miss Francis in her usual immense assort of costume changes. It's why for decades she was decried as having no particular talent, just a clothes horse with a speech impediment. It a slur, of course, even if Warner Brothers occasionally gave her a vehicle in which she was just that, someone for Orry-Kelly to put beautiful clothes on, for an uncredited singer to sing a song while Miss Francis lip-synched to it, and for Thomas Pratt to work his editing magic on. It's certainly watchable and more. Looking at the credits for this movie, it's clear that the Warners knew what a winner they had in Miss Francis, and spent their money freely on her vehicles. I was fascinated while watching it. But it's piffle, and derivative piffle at that.