Kay Francis Alert! Carole Lombard Alert!

TCM will be showing a number of Carole Lombard movies on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 starting at 9:30 am. The film will be mostly from the early 1930's like No More Orchids, Virtue, and Lady by Choice. The marathon will conclude at 6:15 pm with the classic On the Twentieth Century costarring John Barrymore.



At 3 pm, In Name Only starring Carole Lombard, Cary Grant, and Kay Francis will be shown. It is a drama from 1939 in which Grant's character, Alec Walker, falls for a widow named Julie Eden  (Lombard) who has a young daughter, Ellen (Peggy Ann Garner). Alec is completely taken with Julie and Ellen. He wants to marry Julie and become a father to Ellen. Unfortunately, Alec is trapped in a loveless marriage to Maida played by Kay Francis. Maida loves her social position and financial stability -- but not Alec per se. Francis gives an outstanding performance as the wife we all despise. I read that Carole Lombard lobbied for Kay Francis to get the part. It's shocking to think anyone needed to lobby for Kay Francis to be given the second lead in a film. However, Francis was not in demand in 1939 thanks to Jack Warner basically sabotaging her career while she was still at Warner Brothers. Kay proved she still had the ability to command the screen, so Lombard was right to want her in this movie. This movie also costars Charles Coburn as Grant's father, It is truly a "must see." But I warn you -- get out the hankies!!!