British Agent (Warner Bros.) (1934)

“Kay Francis and Leslie Howard come thru with grand performances —1o1,wood reporter Role In ‘British Agent’ Her Hardest, Says Kay Francis While her present role in “British Agent,” First National Productions’ gigantic feature ‘which comes to the........... Theatre Olli: ;. cag oe ae , is of a Russian girl, Kay Francis insists that the part is as familiar to her as any American girl character she ever portrayed. In “British Agent,” Elena is a young aristocrat who has been converted to Bolshevism and like all converts is almost fanatical in following her new Cause. A wild and passionate devotion to the Soviet suddenly conflicts with her love for a young Englishman, played by Leslie Howard. Kay denies that women everywhere are the same when they are in love. “Custom and environment,” she says, “affect a woman’s emotions as much as they affect her actions. “Elena, the Russian girl, does many things that an American girl would do under the same conditions. That is why she is so interesting and also why Elena is the most difficult role I ever played.” “British Agent” is a powerful love drama starring Leslie Howard and Kay Francis. It is inspired by R. H. Bruce Lockhart’s stirring novel of the Russian Revolution. In_the supporting cast are William Gargan, Phillip Reed, Irving Pichel, Walter Byron, Ivan Simpson and many other talented players. Michael Curtiz directed the picture. Beauty of Beauties ‘wht ncchatat’ Mat No. 7—20c Kay Francis Born in Oklahoma City, but when four years old her mother, Katherine Clinton, an actress, placed her in a private school at Ossining, New York. Later she entered Cathedral School in Garden City. She studied secretarial work and be came social secretary to Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt. After a tour of Europe, she decided to go on the stage, first appearing in a modern yersion of “Hamlet.” She later appeared in Broadway in “Venue,” “Crime” and “Elmer The Great,”” among other productions. Her first picture work was in “Gentlemen of the Press.” Her success was instantaneous and she was given a picture contract. Her recent pictures include “Dr. Monica,” “Wonder Bar,” and her current feature, “British Agent,” which comes 1016s 84 eee ‘enentve-on. 2 Kay Francis Again Plays Exotic Role of a Russian Feminine Star In “British Agent” First Enacted Type Five Years Ago ITH Kay Francis in the role of a beautiful Russian girl in “‘British Agent,’’ the First: National produe tion which comes to the Hollywood history again repeats itself. SEE Re ste Theatre on ............ Five years ago, she made her first picture on the Warner Bros. lot in a picture called ‘‘The Notorious Affair’’ for which she was borrowed from another studio. In this she played a Russian girl of the same general type as her present role with Leslie Howard in ‘‘British Agent.’’ Miss Francis has always had a leaning toward foreign characterizations and in at least three of them has scored a notable success. She was Tanya, a Russian Girl in ‘‘Mandalay’’; Madame Colet, a French girl in ‘‘ Trouble in Paradise’’; and a Serbian charmer in ‘‘Storm at Daybreak.’’ The part in ‘‘Mandalay,’’ which she made under her current contract, was considered by many one of her finest performances. In ‘‘British Agent,’’ she is Elena, the sweetheart of the hero. In this, she is much more than a mere romantic interest, since most of the complications are the direct result of her machinations. Elena, rabidly attached to the cause of freedom, is beautiful, cultured and from a family that once enjoyed the favor of the Romanoffs. She believes, however, that the only hope for her people is to throw off the yoke of Czarism. She dedicates her life to the cause. She sacrifices everything in her devotion to the revolutionary leaders. When love for the ‘‘ British Agent’’ enters into her scheme of Page Twelve life, she accepts it because she cannot help herself, but she never lowers the banner she is carrying for her countrymen. To her lover, England comes first; to her Russia. Both are therefore enemies, even in each other’s arms. Against the background of crashing forces re-shaping the face of the earth, their own drama is joined with the greater concerns of Destiny. Elena plays a part that makes her the center of the British Agent’s difficulties. Having played and studied Russian women before, Kay Francis brings a fine understanding to the role of Elena. To make the role entirely convincing, she must call upon all-the beauty, allure and ability that made her a star. The cast of ‘‘British Agent?’ is fast company even for such players as Leslie Howard and Kay Francis. Among the featured ones are Irving Pichel, Walter Byron, William Gargan, Ivan Simpson, J. Carroll Naish, Paul Poreasi, Halliwell Hobbes, Doris Lloyd, Gregory Gaye and Alphonse Ethier. The picture was inspired by the best selling novel by the internationally famous author, R. H. Bruce Lockhart. Kay Francis Kissed Often In New Film Kay Francis is kissed oftener in ‘‘British Agent,’’ the First National production which comes $0 Ste Se aero Theatre on Bie eee hos , than in any of the many romances she has played. Eleven times, the lucky hero, enacted by Leslie Howard, reaps the honeyed reward of the successful lover. Kay Francis Lovely screen star portraying Elena, fanatical Russian patriot in “British Agent,’ First Na tional’s sensational film. Miss Francis co-stars with Leslie How ard in this picture, now playing at the Strand. Mat No. 3—10c Kay Francis Drives Same Flivver She Drove 3 Years Ago When Kay Francis, who has the leading feminine role in the Warner’ Bros. production of “British Agent,” now showir? at | Ooh ns oer easy Theatre, first appeared on the Warner Bros. lot about three years ago, she was Today she comes to work in the same car. driving an old flivver. This is not so much a matter of thrift as it is symbolic of Kay Francis’ outlook. She can not understand why anyone should consider it strange for a big star, who could afford a flock of foreign cars, to be satisfied with a modest little chugger. “The purpose of a car,’ she said, “is to take me to work and back quickly. <A car that would do any more than that would either be an extravagance or a pose. If I wanted a show window for myself, I would hire one and get it over with. I certainly wouldn’t want it on wheels.” “British Agent” is a smashing love drama set in the cataclysmic days of the Russian Revolution, inspired by the novel of R. H. Bruce Lockhart. Leslie Howard and Kay Francis have the stellar roles, the cast including William Gargan, Phillip Reed, Irving Pichel, Walter Byron, Ivan Simpson and hundreds of others. Michael Curtiz directed from the screen play by Laird Doyle. Passionate Love Drama Dominates ‘British Agent’ R. H. Bruce Lockhart’s Book Went Through 33 Editions As Best Seller T has always been a maxim of the theatre that ‘‘a good bill has something on it for everybody.’’ This is but another way of saying that successful entertainment must have a general, rather than a limited appeal. “British Agent,’’ the First National production now showing at the «262806510 Theatre, was inspired by R. H. Bruce Lockhart’s novel that went through thirty-three editions in England and America. Lockhart’s life during the Russian Revolution was a spirited admixture of the very elements of human interest; dangerous adventure, romance, intrigue, suspense and a dramatic background of devastation and death. It may appear strange that Michael Curtiz, who directed the screen version with Kay Francis and Leslie Howard, should find the love story development the most difficult part of his task. Briefly, Stephen Locke, a young adventurer, is bending every effort to prevent the Soviet from declaring a separate peace with Germany. If he fails, it means that Germany can withdraw her troops from the Russian front and throw them into the offensive on the Western Front. This would be disastrous for the Allies. Stephen is in love with Elena, a young Russian girl who serves the leader of the Soviet with a fanatical fervor. The conflict between their love and their political ideals is inescapable drama. “Even the struggle of a whole world against annihilation,” said Curtiz, “does not move an audience as deeply as the struggle of two young hearts to save their love! It is, therefore, quite necessary from a director’s standpoint to let nothing overwhelm the love interest in ‘British Agent.’ The very magnitude of this production could easily overpower it, unless the romance were given careful development.” “When these two young people meet,” he continued, “they open their arms to each other, firm in the belief that though they are fighting for different causes, their love can remain a ground of common understanding. Then the girl finds that to serve her Cause, she must destroy her love. It is in this conflict that the director’s problem is a delicate one.” Kay Francis, who plays Elena has done foreign roles before. In the previous ones, however, she was the central figure of the entire story. In “British Agent,” there are so many tremendous elements involved, that she must rise above the conventional heroine in a subdued background. Leslie Howard, as her vis-a-vis, has the same problem. Howard and Miss Francis are supported by William Gargan, Phillip Reed and Irving Pichel.