Since I just wrote a horrible review of "Comet over Broadway" wherein I recommended seeing "Jewel Robbery" as a much better Kay Francis vehicle, I thought I'd better write a review of JR to say why I liked it so much!
This movie is fast, wicked, naughty, hilarious fun!
Kay plays a spoiled rich woman who is bored with her older husband. One day while shopping in a jewelry store, in comes suave, handsome William Powell, a most elegant jewelry store robber. He holds Kay and the other customers hostage, plays some soothing classical music on a phonograph to help keep them calm and relaxed (he's brought the phonograph and record with him!), and proceeds to clean out the joint, including stealing Kay's own jewels that are on her person.
When the cops come, Powell forces the policeman to smoke a joint (yes, a marijuana cigarette) in order to subdue the cop into submission.
Powell gets away, but Kay is smitten/fascinated. She finds out where he's staying and goes to him to retrieve her jewels. The only thing is, she's not real interested in leaving him. She likes this charming, handsome bad boy. They exchange lots of delicious, naughty double entendres and, if I recall correctly, the movie ends with Kay winking into the camera as she's about to boink Powell.
Armed robbery, drug use, and adultery -- completely sanctioned and unpunished, and even made playful and glamorous! Gotta love the pre-codes! And having Kay Francis and William Powell, two of the 30s most attractive and charismatic actors, play the leads, well that just puts the icing on the cake!
This film is one of my all-time top 10 pre-codes. Catch it on TCM sometime.
This movie is fast, wicked, naughty, hilarious fun!
Kay plays a spoiled rich woman who is bored with her older husband. One day while shopping in a jewelry store, in comes suave, handsome William Powell, a most elegant jewelry store robber. He holds Kay and the other customers hostage, plays some soothing classical music on a phonograph to help keep them calm and relaxed (he's brought the phonograph and record with him!), and proceeds to clean out the joint, including stealing Kay's own jewels that are on her person.
When the cops come, Powell forces the policeman to smoke a joint (yes, a marijuana cigarette) in order to subdue the cop into submission.
Powell gets away, but Kay is smitten/fascinated. She finds out where he's staying and goes to him to retrieve her jewels. The only thing is, she's not real interested in leaving him. She likes this charming, handsome bad boy. They exchange lots of delicious, naughty double entendres and, if I recall correctly, the movie ends with Kay winking into the camera as she's about to boink Powell.
Armed robbery, drug use, and adultery -- completely sanctioned and unpunished, and even made playful and glamorous! Gotta love the pre-codes! And having Kay Francis and William Powell, two of the 30s most attractive and charismatic actors, play the leads, well that just puts the icing on the cake!
This film is one of my all-time top 10 pre-codes. Catch it on TCM sometime.