Kay Francis Plays Exotic Role Again

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 100, 1 May 1935, Page 5

Kay Francis Plays Exotic Role Again

ENACTED TYPE FIRST TIME FIVE YEARS AGO (Regent: Screening To-day.) Five years ago, Kay Francis made her first picture in a film called ::The Notorious Affair.” In this she played a Russian girl of the same general type as her present role with Leslie Howard in “British Agent.” In Vne role of a beautiful Russian girl in the First National production, Hollywood history again repeats itself.

Miss Francis lias always had a leaning toward foreign characterisations and in the last three of them, she has scored a notable success. In “British Agent," she is Elena, tho sweetheart ot the hero. In this, she is much more than a mere romantic interest, since most of the complications are the direct result of her machinations.

Elena, rabidly attached to the cause of freedom, is beautiful, cultured and from a family that once enjoyed the favour of the Romanoffs. She believes, however, that the only hope for her people is to throw off tho yoke of Czarism. She dedicates her life to the cause. She sacrifices everything in her devotion to the revolutionary leaders. When lovo for the “British Agent" enters into her scheme of life, she accepts it because she cannot help herself but she never lowers the banner she is parrying for her countrymen. To her lover, England comes first; to her, Russia. Both are therefore enemies, even in each other’s arms Against the background of crashing forces re-shaping the face of the earth, their own drama is joined with the greater concerns of Destiny. Elena plays a part that makes her tho centre of the British Agent’s difficulties. Tho cast of “British Agent" is fast company even for such players as Leslie Howard and Kay Francis. Among tho featured ones are Irving Pichel, Walter Byron, William Gargan, Ivan Simpson, J. Carroll Naish Paul Porcasi, Ilalliwcll Hobbes, Doris Lloyd, Gregory Gaye and Alphonse Ethicr.