The great Kay Francis was an astute actress. She knew this project was going to be her farewell to a distinguished movie career and decided to co-produce the picture herself, something that assured one of the best roles she made in the industry. She proved she was quite at home in sophisticated comedies, as well as portraying this Sheila Seymour, who was some piece of work. Working with director William Nigh, "Allotment Wives" doesn't pretend to be anything other than an entertaining drama with a shade of film noir mixed in.
Sheila Seymour is the sly head of a racket that involved monies that phony wives claimed about GIs fighting WWII. Her front is some sort of a canteen where soldiers mix with girls for entertainment and where some of the candidates for doing the dirty jobs can be found. Sheila is also the owner of a salon where wealthy ladies are pampered and who love to return Sheila's kindness by offering their help giving the soldiers a nice send off before they have to go to war. Little does Sheila know her empire was coming to a tragic end when Pete Martin enters the picture!
Kay Francis is excellent, as always. She wasn't a beauty by Hollywood standards, but what a presence she projected! She put most of her peers to shame, as she shows in this picture. Paul Kelly, Otto Kruger, Gertrude Michael, Teala Loring, and the rest of the supporting players make the best of their characters.
"Allotment Wives" was a rare find when we stumbled into it by just pure coincidence. It is recommended for fans of Kay Francis. She will not disappoint.
Sheila Seymour is the sly head of a racket that involved monies that phony wives claimed about GIs fighting WWII. Her front is some sort of a canteen where soldiers mix with girls for entertainment and where some of the candidates for doing the dirty jobs can be found. Sheila is also the owner of a salon where wealthy ladies are pampered and who love to return Sheila's kindness by offering their help giving the soldiers a nice send off before they have to go to war. Little does Sheila know her empire was coming to a tragic end when Pete Martin enters the picture!
Kay Francis is excellent, as always. She wasn't a beauty by Hollywood standards, but what a presence she projected! She put most of her peers to shame, as she shows in this picture. Paul Kelly, Otto Kruger, Gertrude Michael, Teala Loring, and the rest of the supporting players make the best of their characters.
"Allotment Wives" was a rare find when we stumbled into it by just pure coincidence. It is recommended for fans of Kay Francis. She will not disappoint.