Kay Francis is famous for making tons of trashy Pre-Code dramas for Warner Brothers. Since they were released before the tougher Production Code was adopted in mid-1934, all kinds of craziness occurs in the films--adultery, murder, unpunished sin and much more. "Mandalay" was one of the very last of these scandalous films, as it came out in early 1934. In subsequent films, such goings on were NOT allowed and many of Francis' films from before mid-1934 were either not re-released or were trimmed heavily to comply with the censorship demands of the new Code.
This film is set in Burma---the first portion in Rangoon and then a boat ride to Mandalay. Kay Francis is running from something--though you don't know exactly why. She's hiding out with her lover (Ricardo Cortez) and the film is amazingly frank about their sexual relationship. However, soon he sells her out--leaving her with a scumbag (Warner Oland) who forces her to work as a 'hostess'. While it's never said that she turns tricks, this does seem to be the implication. She apparently is VERY good at it and amasses a small fortune--and leaves for a better life in Mandalay.
Most of the rest of the film is set aboard a slow-moving riverboat. There she meets an odd doctor (Lyle Talbot)--a man who is going to work with plague victims as a way to do penance. And, although she plays a very jaded and world-weary dame, slowly she begins to fall for the man. Then, out of the blue, Cortez gets on the boat and, well, you'll have to see for yourself what happens next. I don't want to spoil the Pre-Code fun! So is the film worth seeing? As a guilty pleasure, absolutely. The film is chock full of stuff you just won't see a few months later--particularly how Francis dealt with Cortez when they met again. Never dull...and a bit sleazy! Worth seeing.
By the way, get a load of Francis' dresses--they are even more outlandish than usual--especially given she's in Burma!!
This film is set in Burma---the first portion in Rangoon and then a boat ride to Mandalay. Kay Francis is running from something--though you don't know exactly why. She's hiding out with her lover (Ricardo Cortez) and the film is amazingly frank about their sexual relationship. However, soon he sells her out--leaving her with a scumbag (Warner Oland) who forces her to work as a 'hostess'. While it's never said that she turns tricks, this does seem to be the implication. She apparently is VERY good at it and amasses a small fortune--and leaves for a better life in Mandalay.
Most of the rest of the film is set aboard a slow-moving riverboat. There she meets an odd doctor (Lyle Talbot)--a man who is going to work with plague victims as a way to do penance. And, although she plays a very jaded and world-weary dame, slowly she begins to fall for the man. Then, out of the blue, Cortez gets on the boat and, well, you'll have to see for yourself what happens next. I don't want to spoil the Pre-Code fun! So is the film worth seeing? As a guilty pleasure, absolutely. The film is chock full of stuff you just won't see a few months later--particularly how Francis dealt with Cortez when they met again. Never dull...and a bit sleazy! Worth seeing.
By the way, get a load of Francis' dresses--they are even more outlandish than usual--especially given she's in Burma!!