Paramount knew they had a gold mine in Kay Francis even though she had limited theatre experience. Exhibitors noted that her name on a marquee meant top business and fan magazines clamoured for her photos and interviews to keep her legion of fans happy. Kay had a great love of her privacy and her flip, often "get lost" approach eventually turned the public against her but in 1930, 31, Paramount tried all it could to get the public onside, showcasing her in picture after picture.
Mark Flint (George Bancroft) is ruthless when it comes to digging up the dirt for his scandal sheet - when an old head master comes pleading with him to keep his family out of the news when his brother is exposed as a notorious gangster, even though the managing editor is a friend, with Flint it's "no go"!! But tough guy Flint is a marshmallow when it comes to his beautiful wife Edith (Kay looks stunning in some beautiful outfits - I wonder if it was this movie that first had female fans drooling over her wardrobe)!! She is madly in love with banker Noel Adams (Clive Brook, in his usual prim and proper style) so when Flint confronts Noel in his flat, Noel thinks the showdown is here!! It is - but just not this showdown!! Adam's bank is in hot water over some shares that should never have come up for sale, he and the other managers are scrambling to raise money to pay back the shareholders. Flint pays a visit and gives him 48 hours to get the money or the story goes onto the front page - "Banker Packs Bags - Widows and Orphans Hold the Bag"!!
When Flint leaves a cub reporter outside the apartment to take a picture - the one he gets sends shock waves throughout the paper "at last we've actually found a story that Flint won't print"!!
With George Bancroft front and centre stage, the other two pale into the back ground, regardless of how beautiful and insouciant Kay appears. George Bancroft was larger than life both on and off the screen and he gives Flint a terrific presence, especially during the last third when eager reporter (Regis Toomey) presents him with the photo of Edith in Noel's arms. He smoulders with suppressed anger as he calmly tells them what they are going to put on their front page before it happens!!
Bancroft may have been one of Paramounts top stars but he rapidly developed a huge ego and while "Blood Money" was a boost to his career, his roles became sparser and after 1933 he turned to character parts.
Mark Flint (George Bancroft) is ruthless when it comes to digging up the dirt for his scandal sheet - when an old head master comes pleading with him to keep his family out of the news when his brother is exposed as a notorious gangster, even though the managing editor is a friend, with Flint it's "no go"!! But tough guy Flint is a marshmallow when it comes to his beautiful wife Edith (Kay looks stunning in some beautiful outfits - I wonder if it was this movie that first had female fans drooling over her wardrobe)!! She is madly in love with banker Noel Adams (Clive Brook, in his usual prim and proper style) so when Flint confronts Noel in his flat, Noel thinks the showdown is here!! It is - but just not this showdown!! Adam's bank is in hot water over some shares that should never have come up for sale, he and the other managers are scrambling to raise money to pay back the shareholders. Flint pays a visit and gives him 48 hours to get the money or the story goes onto the front page - "Banker Packs Bags - Widows and Orphans Hold the Bag"!!
When Flint leaves a cub reporter outside the apartment to take a picture - the one he gets sends shock waves throughout the paper "at last we've actually found a story that Flint won't print"!!
With George Bancroft front and centre stage, the other two pale into the back ground, regardless of how beautiful and insouciant Kay appears. George Bancroft was larger than life both on and off the screen and he gives Flint a terrific presence, especially during the last third when eager reporter (Regis Toomey) presents him with the photo of Edith in Noel's arms. He smoulders with suppressed anger as he calmly tells them what they are going to put on their front page before it happens!!
Bancroft may have been one of Paramounts top stars but he rapidly developed a huge ego and while "Blood Money" was a boost to his career, his roles became sparser and after 1933 he turned to character parts.