The Keyhole (1933)

Anne Brooks is being blackmailed by her old dancing partner Maurice. They married when she was young but broke up after which he said he was getting a quickie divorce. Anne married the much... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Robert Presnell Sr. (screen play), Alice D.G. Miller (based on the story "Adventuress")

Stars:

Kay Francis, George Brent, Glenda Farrell

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kay Francis	...	Anne
George Brent	...	Neil
Glenda Farrell	...	Dot
Monroe Owsley	...	Maurice
Allen Jenkins	...	Hank
Helen Ware	...	Portia Brooks
Henry Kolker	...	Schuyler Brooks
Ferdinand Gottschalk	...	Brooks' Lawyer

Storyline

Anne Brooks is being blackmailed by her old dancing partner Maurice. They married when she was young but broke up after which he said he was getting a quickie divorce. Anne married the much older millionaire Schuyler Brooks only to have Maurice return to reveal he didn't obtain the divorce after all. Now he wants money to keep quiet. Anne reveals her secret to Schuyler's sister Portia who devises a scheme to trick Maurice into leaving the country by having Anne suddenly travel alone to Cuba. Once out of the country Portia will use her influence to block Maurice's return. However, Anne's request for a vacation by herself in Cuba arouses Schuyler's already simmering jealousy. He hires detective Neil Davis to follow her and prove whether she is faithful. Neil is unsuccessful in seducing Anne, then realizes he is falling in love with her.

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | dancing | valet | private detective | blackmail | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

I porta ton oneiron

Box Office

Budget:

$169,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Vitaphone Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot in 25 days.

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Quotes

Schuyler Brooks: If I can get a special plane, the first thing in the morning, will you go with me?
Portia Brooks: Why, I wouldn't fly across the street for *any* woman's honor!

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Soundtracks

"The Japanese Sandman"
(1920) (uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Played during the Havana montage

User Reviews

Kay Francis potboiler from the early '30s

"The Key Hole" is one of those "If you've seen one, you've seen them all" type films, though it's certainly not bad. Francis plays Ann Brooks, married to a wealthy man (Henry Kolker). She was married before, to Maurice (Monroe Owsley) who never got the divorce he promised her and is now blackmailing her because of it. She works out a scheme with her sister-in-law Portia (Helen Ware) to lure him out of the country, and then Portia would use her influence to have his visa taken away.

As part of the plan, Ann heads for Havana by ship, with Maurice following. Her suspicious husband has hired a detective, Neil Davis (George Brent) to try and seduce her, and along with Brent comes his spy, Hank Wales (Allen Jenkins). Wales meets Dot (Glenda Farrell), and these two provide the film's humor.

Well, you can guess what happens.

Kay Francis wears many fabulous gowns. I used to think the kind of lifestyle her character lived was just in the movies until I saw a 1930s Vogue magazine. What a formal time that was, with people dressing to the nines for lunch and to do any kind of traveling. Almost all the ads in Vogue were for trips on ocean liners. We've come a long way, and I'm not sure that's a good thing.

Anyway, the film is predictable, but Francis is good, as are Jenkins and Farrell. Brent is very smooth and charming.

Kay Francis made these films by the truckload, and I have to admit I watch them when they appear on TCM. She really epitomizes that early '30s era for me - an era that has not one vestige of it visible today.