Thanks for the memories!

Sorry, this movie sucks

Instant Favorite.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

In fact, I like Kay Francis, too, although I have learned that whether Francis was good or bad in a film depended a lot on whether the film, overall, was good or bad. And this is fairly bad one. Particularly the early parts of the film where the plot is being set up. But the worst part of the film is the dreadful performance of supporting actress Isabel Jeans; if there were a death penalty for bad acting, Jeans would have been in the gas chamber for this film.Kay Francis struggles through here...and I mean that literally. To me her whole performance is off a bit. Okay, so she's an actress who wants to act only in New York City. I can accept that, but also understand how unrealistic it is to expect to go big time without paying your dues before that.George Brent is an actor I enjoy, but without Bette Davis he was less interesting. And there's no Bette here. He does "okay" here as an architect turned set designer turned lover.Ian Hunter, a likable and dependable actor is...likable and dependable here. No great shakes, but he does "okay" also. To emotionally generous to be in a triangular love affair.And Gloria Dickson as Brent's wife...no thanks.The trouble with this film is that there are things about it that are bad, things about it that are "okay", but very little about it that is good...and certainly nothing about it that is great.Proceed at your own risk. Isabel Jeans as Marian Plantagenet

In light of some pretty corny stuff from "way back when" AND from 2016, this film took me by surprise! Kay Francis, whom I'd never thought of as attractive, was absolutely gorgeous, and the costuming (not mentioned in any user review here) is fabulous. And so was the way she wore them. She played a strong, ambitious woman -- thank you, screen writers -- who ultimately got what she wanted (a rarity in those days: it wasn't a husband), and succeeded because she was smart w/out being hard, charming w/o being silly, and a fine actress in the opening "audition" scene. The pace was terrific, plus I kept finding myself laughing out loud -- not at the dated girlfriend's routines (ugh -- annoyingly overacted and hammy) but by the unexpected frequent quips in the repartee, particularly between the two main male characters; 'I'll send you an icicle from Norway" instead of "I'll send you a postcard?" Continually unexpected and original, and for those days, realistically acted. My 9 instead of 10: the point I deducted was for the Plantaganet gal's hamming.Low key makes plot points & fits a team's acting. Timing is everything -- the film is well paced,and delightful. And Francis has chops! Looking back, ahead of its time in acting style AND clothing.

"Secrets Of An Actress" is pretty much a routine soaper without much to recommend it - except that this one has a stellar cast trying bravely to put it over. The odds are stacked against them as the plot is hackneyed and predictable right up to the ending. There is nothing exceptional to the story, no real highs or lows and the best part of this trudge through the landscape is the background music.In a review above, blanche-2 explains why Kay Francis, one of Hollywood's more glamorous and sophisticated 30's stars, found herself in this exercise in tedium. Ian Hunter and George Brent also must have been at loose ends and looking for something to do, but between the two of them and Kay Francis they are able to keep the lightweight story afloat. For my money the website has this picture very overrated.

Kay Francis must have had some interesting secrets in the way she had two men chasing her in Secrets Of An Actress. Beauty, talent, and that little something extra that makes one a star.In Secrets Of An Actress, Kay is the daughter of a famous stage actor who has tried to match that career. But all she gets is road company tours in various classics. She wants to be a hit on Broadway and in a role created for her. As it happens she has a play that she wrote with just that in mind. To find a producer is the key.Enter Ian Hunter who is a successful architect and pretty well fixed financially. A chance meeting in a bar with Francis and he's literally swept off his feet. Hunter has a younger associate in his firm played by George Brent who is likewise smitten with Francis, but he's just a little bit married to Gloria Dickson, one real piece of work.If you're a fan of Thirties screen comedies I think you'll know where this one is going. Doesn't mean the ride isn't pleasant. The script is a witty, sophisticated one and the cast performs it well. Look for a brilliant performance by Isabel Jeans as Francis's best friend, an old time actress with a little drinking problem. She plays it like a combination of Eve Arden and Zasu Pitts. In her case the old Latin phrase in vino veritas rings true as she has some really good observations, especially with a drink or two.A few years down the road, I think someone would have recognized Diana Barrymore for the model of Francis's character. Secrets Of An Actress, though from the Warner B picture unit is a bright comedy, very typical of its time.