STOLEN HOLIDAY

US, 1936, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Kay Francis, Claude Rains, Ian Hunter, Alison Skipworth.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.

Stolen Holiday is a more elaborate and bigger-budget film for Kay Francis, so popular at this period of the 1930s. Her next film would be Another Dawn with Errol Flynn.

Claude Rains was emerging as a Hollywood lead after his career in England. He soon became a standard villain (The Adventures of Robin Hood, Mr Smith? Goes to Washington). Ian Hunter was a British romantic lead in many Hollywood films. There are some comic touches by the veteran Alison Skipworth.

The film has the exotic touch, set in France. With its story of frauds and big business, it is even relevant at the beginning of the 21st century. However, it is reminiscent of a similar kind of scandal which took place in France in 1934 with a swindle which had political repercussions. This was the subject of the film Stavisky starring Jean-Paul? Belmondo from 1974.

1.A popular romantic melodrama of the 1930s? The French setting? The financial fraud? The world of fashion? Politics, police, corruption?

2.The black and white photography, the studio sets for France? The fashion shows? The holiday resorts? The comfortable homes? Police precincts? The musical score?

3.The focus on Nicky, her work as a model, her being chosen by Stefan? The deal and her agreement? Her prosperity, her fashion house, her design? Her friendship with Stefan? The encounter with Anthony Wayne, the party, his background as a diplomat? The easy life? The difficulties with Stefan? The changes, suspicion, the protest outside her shop? Her standing by Stefan, marrying him? Discovering the deceit? Her going to him, the police following her, the confrontation, her response to his death? A future with Anthony?

4.Stefan, the Claude Rains type of character? His suddenly appearing, his presence at the fashion show, the choice of the models, choosing Nicky? His proposal? His prosperity, the fraud? The politicians, the police, his connections? His assistant? His covering his tracks? Going into different businesses? The police investigations? The arrest of the colleagues? His being one step ahead? His flight? Talking with Nicky, the proposal of marriage, wanting the politicians to be present? The police arriving, the politicians and police disappearing? His going away, Nicky’s reaction? Her following him, his confession to her, his shooting himself?

5.Anthony Wayne, the suave diplomat, the attraction to Nicky? Standing by her? The years passing? The final support, the holiday together, her going to Stefan? His saving her at the end?

6.The police, the politicians? Their agreement to the fraud? Their concerns, going to Stefan, his aplomb? The police, the interrogations, saving themselves, giving information? Pursuing Stefan on his holiday? His death?

7.Suzanne, the worldly wisdom, support of Nicky, criticisms of Stefan, setting Anthony up, arranging things? Her support of Nicky?

8.Nicky, the end, selling her company, repaying the debtors?

9.The American history of this kind of fraud from the 1930s to the 21st century? Imaged in a French scandal?