JLRMovieReviews Get ready for some Kay Francis melodramatic fun! Kay is married to Henry Kolker, but a past suitor shows up to blackmail her with the fact they're still married. She goes to her much older sister-in-law for her advice. She says that, if Kay can get him out of the country, she can make it so that he can't get back into America. Their plan is that Kay asks for a vacation away from her husband for this purpose, but hubbie is jealous and suspicious. He hires an investigator to follow her and report her movements to him. Similar to Doris Day's "Romance on the High Seas," investigator George Brent then tails Kay and in the process falls for her and she him. Provocatively titled "The Keyhole," this film delivers melodrama with humor and Kay and George have always had great screen chemistry. They made many a film together because of it. Their scenes together are seductive and glamorous fun! Glenda Farrell and Allen Jenkins are part of the dependable supporting cast, and Henry Kolker has a great scene near the end of the film. "The Keyhole" is a great example Pre-Code storytelling! Turn the key and come in - and, lock the door!

blanche-2 "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.

kidboots Apparently women went to a Kay Francis film to view her dresses and with 20 changes of costume in "The Keyhole" she doesn't disappoint. One of the most beautiful stars of the 1930s, she is completely complimented by George Brent (one of the most handsome of leading men.)This film was loosely remade by Warners in the late 40s as a Doris Day vehicle - "Romance on the High Seas" - Janis Page had the Kay Francis role. This film being a pre-coder, had a few more unlikeable types in it.Kay plays Ann, who is married to wealthy businessman, Schuyler Brooks (Henry Kolker). He is very suspicious of her and already has her chauffeur giving details of her movements. Suddenly she announces her plans to holiday in Cuba for a couple of weeks so Brooks employs private investigator Neil (George Brent) to shadow her and try to make her fall in love with him.Ann has a secret - she was originally a dancer and married to her partner (Monroe Owsley in another oily performance). She thought she was divorced but he has come back into her life and is blackmailing her on the threat of exposure. She wants to holiday in Cuba to finally be rid of him.Allen Jenkins plays Neil's "valet" who becomes entangled with a mercenary gold-digger played with gusto by Glenda Farrell - "the only way he will get rid of me is to jump overboard". This plot was left up in the air with Jenkins happily going off to marry Farrell, still thinking she is an heiress.When they arrive in Cuba. Neil finds he is really falling in love with her - and Ann trying her hardest to resist.I really liked the film if only to see Francis and Brent together, and can heartily recommend it.

elpep49 Kay Francis plays a woman being blackmailed by a former partner (Monroe Owsley). She discovers that he never got the divorce he promised and her new marriage is illegal. Hatching a scheme with her sister-in-law (Helen Ware), she flees to Havana, hoping the cad will follow. He does but so does the detective (George Brent) her husband hires to spy on her. Wild storyline becomes more believable as the film goes on because of the chemistry between Francis and Brent. Good support from Glenda Farrell, Allen Jenkins, and Clarence Wilson. This ranks as one of Kay Francis' best women's pictures of the early 30s--with One Way Passage and Confession.