Women in the Wind (1939)

This is one of those films that will make your eyes pop back into your head as you shake it out of shear utter disbelief of what you're seeing on screen. The story of a group of women who enter a plane race has a few redeeming qualities, but ultimately it suffers from a major lack of realism. Kay Francis, far from the trappings of society in her heyday as the top diva of Warner Brothers, dresses down for a change as a pilot who falls for a married pilot (William Gargan) whose estranged wife (Sheila Bromley) demands the plane that Gargan has promised Francis as part of their settlement. The nasty Bromley even has Francis's plane tampered with after another pilot, Francis's pal Eve Arden, has cracked up. This leads to Francis's plane loosing all of its gas, an emergency landing, and finally flying to the finish with only one of the two landing gear wheels attached. There is not just one nail-biting potential crash scene, but two. First of all, Arden's plane begins leaking oil, and she nosedives to a crash which leaves her still living and able to move her arms to hand Francis a note. Then, Francis makes her landing with only one wheel. Both are majorly flabbergasting with the way they are handled. The one element of Arden's crash is the genuine look of horror she has, which is a testimony to one of the great comics of stage and screen in a strictly dramatic role. Her realization of her possible fate is genuinely spooky. Francis, obviously forced to do this lower grade "B" film to end her contract at Warners, does so with dignity, but still deserved better.

Only a couple years before this film was made, Kay Francis was the highest paid and most prestigious actress at Warner Brothers. However, with the improving stature of Bette Davis in recent years, Warners decided to cut Francis loose--she was just too expensive in their eyes to justify keeping her. So here we have Kay at the end of her Warner contract consigned to star in a B-movie--my how the mighty have fallen! Ironically, she was now making the same type films David had been making when Francis was in her heyday. Soon after finishing this film, Francis landed at poverty row studio Monogram where she finished up her career. Despite being a B (and a not particularly distinguished one at that), Francis did try her best and I must applaud her for acting like a real trooper! The film begins with a fat-headed pilot setting a speed record in a plane that obviously could not have set a record in the late 30s (by then, biplanes just couldn't match the speeds of monoplanes). Kay's brother, a famous pilot, is in need of an operation and she thinks that if she can convince the fat-head to let her borrow his plane, she can win a women's air race. Well, the guy actually agrees but the plan falls through when his conniving ex-wife shows up and announces that their Mexican divorce isn't legal and she takes the plane. So, we have poor old Francis and her brother left in the cold. Will plucky Kay get another plane and win the race to give her brother that needed operation? What do you think!!!??? From the description above, you might think that the plot sure sounds clichéd--and you'd be right. Despite this and a generally weak script, the film is still fun and blessedly short. While far from a "must-see" film, it is worth a peek if you are a Kay Francis fan or if you like airplane films. Otherwise, it's not a bad idea to skip this one.

After an evening of Kay Francis floating through a series of flat "A" levels (ANOTHER DAWN; FIRST LADY; CONFESSION), where often even the scenery steals scenes from her, and especially after enjoying her Pre-Code hey-day (DR. MONICA; MARY STEVENS, MD; TROUBLE IN PARADISE; ONE WAY PASSAGE), it was gratifying to see the old fire spitting and sputtering through the John Farrow-directed WOMEN IN THE WIND. Francis, despite her name appearing below the title, a reliable if second-tier cast, and an oddly frumpy, figure-obscuring wardrobe, carries the picture along with cheery confidence and yes, a little more fire than you'd come to expect. Ravishing Kay holds her own, even against scene-thief Eve Arden, here playing an oft-married bon-aviatrix named "Kit" Campbell, the great sport, heroic long-distance pilot, complete with silk scarf and confident swagger. They may have tried everything to discourage her at Warners, but Kay Francis is unequivocally running this game. There is even a third strong actress given a generous amount of screen time, Sheila Bromley, a tough cookie whom you probably saw in some 1950s sit-coms playing tough cookies (JOAN DAVIS SHOW; I LOVE LUCY). Here Bromley gets to sink her chops into the stock "First Wife-Other Woman" road hazard, providing personally supervised obstacles for ex-hub (William Gargan), Francis, and all the WOMEN IN THE WIND put together. Lots of Warners' actresses - Ann Sheridan, Jane Wyman, Carole Hughes, Gloria Dickson, Lola Lane, Marcia Ralston - could have easily played this role, but it's a treat to watch Bromley - an actress who reminded me of the young, cocky Bette Davis of the "I'd love to kiss ya..."days. The lead is handled by William Gargan, an actor who had great Pat O'Brien-style charm, which here he uses sparingly, spending a large portion of the tale glowering. Too bad he's sort of dull and annoying while he glowers, because he's playing a guy named Ace Boreman. As comic relief, Maxie Rosenbloom has a nice, easy-going, laid-back style -- untrained with good instincts, and quite welcome in this film. And Eddie Foy, Jr., Frankie Burke, Frank Faylen, Vera Lewis, and Spencer Charters are all on hand to do good work in a highly entertaining tale that holds the interest. Footage of circa aircraft is actually as entertaining as any aspect of the picture, there's not one dull shot.

Women in the Wind is an enjoyable movie that is briskly paced and features some interesting airplane sequences. Don't expect a strong story or deep characterization, though, just a good time at the movies. Besides, with Kay Francis in it how can you go wrong?