The best Kay Francis movies reveal a versatile actress who never should have been lost to time. Considered one of the “lost” stars of Old Hollywood’s Golden Age, Francis left behind a filmography full of melodramas, hilarious pre-code comedies, and even a few mysteries here and there.
For those who do, in fact, remember Francis, she is perhaps best remembered as the queen of the 1930s melodrama. Time and time again, Francis played romantic, maternal, self-sacrificing, devastating characters — and it never got old.
Francis was a major female box office attraction throughout the 1930s, but particularly in the mid 1930s. Though she specialized in what was then called “women’s pictures,” her filmography might surprise you with a few genre twists here and there.
Below, we’ve ranked the 10 best Kay Francis movies of all time. In compiling this list, we’ve weighed the overall quality of the film, the importance of Francis’s role within it, and the strength of her performance. These aren’t just her biggest hits. These are the films that show why she deserves to be remembered.
Key Takeways
- The best Kay Francis movies include Trouble in Paradise, One Way Passage, Jewel Robbery, and Confession.
- Francis’ finest films combine sophisticated pre-code comedy with adult romantic drama.
- Her emotionally charged women’s pictures released during the 1930s made her one of Warner Bros.’ biggest stars.
- Today, she is considered one of Old Hollywood’s most forgotten stars.
10. Give Me Your Heart (1936)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Starring: Kay Francis, George Brent, Roland Young, Patric Knowles
Directed by: Archie Mayo
To start off our list of the very best Kay Francis movies, we’ll begin with 1936’s Give Me Your Heart. In this romantic drama, Belinda Warren (Francis) is an unmarried woman who has had an affair with Robert Melford (Knowles), a British aristocrat who is unwilling to leave his invalid wife.
When Belinda becomes pregnant, she reluctantly agrees to let Robert and his wife raise the child as their own. Unable to come to terms with her decision, she moves to America and eventually marries Jim Baker (Brent), a businessman who truly loves her.
However, Belinda can’t seem to tell Jim about her past or her child… even when Robert and her past come crashing back into her life.
Give Me Your Heart is a riveting drama, particularly because of its depiction of adultery and having a child out of wedlock, something that was not often able to be seen on the film screen once the Code was strictly enforced in 1934. A must-watch for any Francis fan.
9. I Found Stella Parish (1935)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Starring: Kay Francis, Ian Hunter, Paul Lukas
Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy
In I Found Stella Parish, Francis plays the titular heroine, an American actress who has become a major stage star in England. However, Stella Parish has also been concealing quite a lot of drama from her past — including a young daughter.
When Stella is blackmailed, she flees to America, only to be followed by a journalist who discovers the truth. Suddenly, a very real public scandal could threaten her career.
This 1935 film is the type of women’s picture melodrama one either loves or hates. It has secret motherhood, emotional sacrifice, and a great Francis performance. For those of us who do indeed love this sort of soapy drama, this film is one of the best Kay Francis movies ever made.
I Found Stella Parish was a commercial success when it was released in 1935. It remains one of the clearest examples of a Francis star vehicle film.
8. Mandalay (1934)
Genre: Drama
Starring: Kay Francis, Ricardo Cortez, Warner Oland
Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Mandalay is certainly one of the very best Kay Francis movies of all time. It’s an absolute stunner of a pre-code film, even though it’s not perfect by any means.
In this 1934 drama, Tanya (Francis), a Russian refugee in Rangoon, is abandoned by her lover, gunrunner Tony Evans (Ricardo Cortez). Tony hands Tanya over to underworld operator Nick (Warner Oland) to settle a debt. As a result of this betrayal, Tanya is forced into Nick’s nightclub work.
However, she refuses to remain a victim and instead renames herself as “Spot White.” Slowly, she gains money, influence, and, finally, means to escape Nick and his cruelty. She heads for Mandalay on a boat and, along the way, meets a disgraced doctor who gives her the chance to change her life… before Tony reenters her life one last time.
Mandalay is short, ruthless, and a must-watch.
7. Girls About Town (1931)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Starring: Kay Francis, Joel McCrea, Lilyan Tashman
Directed by: George Cukor
Who doesn’t love a pre-code romcom? In the very enjoyable Girls About Town, Francis and Lilyan Tashman play two glamorous New York escorts who make their living by entertaining wealthy, often rather ignorant and gullible, businessmen.
Enter Joel McCrea and his friend… and Francis’ character finds herself genuinely falling in love with her newest target. The film is a mix of romance paired with cynicism over the then “modern” world. Paired with direction by George Cukor, it’s quite a lot of fun.
6. Guilty Hands (1931)
Genre: Crime Drama
Starring: Lionel Barrymore, Kay Francis, Madge Evans
Directed by: W.S. Van Dyke
Guilty Hands is brisk, rather theatrical, and definitely a Lionel Barrymore vehicle. However, it is a stunning film that appeared towards the beginning of Francis’ career — and we just had to include it on this list.
Barrymore plays Richard Grant, a former district attorney who believes that homicide can be morally justified. When he learns that the disreputable Gordon Rich wants to marry his daughter, he decides to kill the man — and then disguise the crime as a suicide.
Grant would probably have gotten away with it if it weren’t for Gordon’s secret lover, played by Francis. Though Francis only has a supporting role here, her role is pivotal to how the story plays out. As a result, it’s one of the very best Kay Francis movies.
5. Confession (1937)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Starring: Kay Francis, Basil Rathbone, Ian Hunter
Directed by: Joe May
Confession is certainly one of the very best Kay Francis movies of all time. How could it not be? For many, it contains her finest performance ever recorded on film.
In this 1937 romantic drama, Francis plays Vera Kowalska, a nightclub singer who suddenly shoots the celebrated pianist Michael Michailow (Basil Rathbone) in a Warsaw restaurant — and right in the middle of her performance. At her trial, Vera initially refuses to explain herself, choosing instead not to speak a word.
The film then unfolds through her eventual testimony — given, in many ways, against her will — and we learn why she shot the pianist through flashbacks that take up most of the movie. Vera’s story reveals a marriage, happy motherhood, and eventual betrayal.
We also learn of her history with Michael and his predatory charm. Finally, we learn why Vera so wanted to protect the young music student, Lisa (Jane Bryan), who was on a date with Michael when Vera shot him.
Confession remains one of Francis’ strongest straight dramatic showcases for a very good reason. It is a highly watchable film, even decades after it was made.
4. Jewel Robbery (1932)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Starring: William Powell, Kay Francis, Helen Vinson
Directed by: William Dieterle
Jewel Robbery is an absolute delight. Francis plays Baroness Teri, a bored Viennese aristocrat whose husband buys her an enormous diamond ring. However, right when they’re buying said ring, a sophisticated robber — played beautifully and hilariously by William Powell — takes over the jewelry shop and relieves the customers of all of their valuables.
He also flirts rather openly with Teri.
Teri doesn’t fear him. No, instead, she’s rather delighted by the whole thing. When she returns home after the robbery, she finds her beloved stolen ring there waiting for her. Suddenly, that terrifying robbery has become the beginning of one fun romantic game.
Powell and Francis are magic together. In many ways, Francis was the only other female star who would hold her own when up against the charm of Powell — save his other frequent costar Myrna Loy, of course. Any list of the best Kay Francis movies has to include Jewel Robbery somewhere up near the top!
3. In Name Only (1939)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Starring: Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Kay Francis
Directed by: John Cromwell
Francis rarely got to play an out-and-out villain — which is why her villainous turn in In Name Only is so special, and why it’s ranked so highly here, even though she only has a supporting role.
In this romantic drama, Cary Grant stars as Alec Walker, a wealthy man trapped in a loveless marriage to Maida Walker (Francis). Alec eventually falls in love with Julie Eden (Carole Lombard), a warmhearted widow. Maida, however, refuses to let him leave her.
Maida married for money and position — not for love. When it looks like she might lose the husband she doesn’t love, she expertly outmaneuvers him at every turn, including winning his parents over to her side.
Francis spent much of the 1930s playing wronged or sacrificing women. In In Name Only, one of her last films of the decade, she gets to play a real villain — and for this reason, it’s one of the very best Kay Francis movies.
2. One Way Passage (1932)
Genre: Romantic Dramedy
Starring: William Powell, Kay Francis, Frank McHugh
Directed by: Tay Garnett
One Way Passage is Francis’ finest romantic drama — without a doubt. Powell plays Dan Hardesty, a convicted murderer who is being transported on an ocean liner from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Once he arrives in America, he will be executed.
Francis, meanwhile, plays Joan Ames, a refined woman who is secretly dying from an incurable illness. She’s traveling on the same ship and, when they first meet, neither initially tells the other the truth about their grim future.
As a result, they fall in love during the voyage, each lying to the other about why the romance cannot continue when they reach San Francisco. Though this film is very much a drama, there are great lighthearted moments — often supplied by Aline MacMahon and Frank McHugh — so, when things get a bit too sad, they’re there to lighten us all up. Truly a great film.
1. Trouble in Paradise (1932)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Starring: Miriam Hopkins, Kay Francis, Herbert Marshall
Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
Trouble in Paradise is the best Kay Francis movie of all time. It also happens to be one of the greatest, most sophisticated comedies in Old Hollywood history.
In this very fun 1932 romantic comedy, Herbert Marshall and Miriam Hopkins play Gaston and Lily, two expert thieves and lovers who are looking to rob Mariette Colet, a wealthy Parisian perfume manufacturer. Francis, of course, plays Mariette.
In order to successfully rob the wealthy woman, Gaston enters her household as her new secretary. However, his scheme eventually becomes rather complicated when real attraction develops between employer and thief.
Though Francis shares the limelight with Hopkins and Marshall here, her role is essential to the film. Though she’s playing a very wealthy character, Francis doesn’t play her as some fool. Plus, Lubitsch’s directing is, as always, perfect for the story.
If you’re looking to watch just one Francis movie today, let it be this gem.
For those interested, Trouble in Paradise is also a part of the Criterion Collection!
Watch the Best Kay Francis Movies Today
It’s hard not to love the many films Francis starred in, particularly the ones from the 1930s. Throughout her filmography, Francis played women who felt trapped — whether it be by scandal, illness, marriage, money, or even the judgment of “respectable” society.
For those who are new to Francis’ movies, Trouble in Paradise, One Way Passage, and Jewel Robbery are perhaps the best introductory movies for this Old Hollywood star. Those who enjoy melodramas, meanwhile, may be better suited to starting with Confession, Mandalay, and Give Me Your Heart.
For those who adore Francis — like us — it’s hard to limit the best Kay Francis movies to just ten films. So, once you fall in love with this Old Hollywood star, and we know you will, check out the rest of her filmography. You won’t regret it.
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