My Bill

Last updated
My Bill
Kay Francis in My Bill trailer.jpg
Kay Francis in the film trailer
Directed by John Farrow
Written by Vincent Sherman
Based onCourage
1928 play
by Tom Barry
Produced byBryan Foy
Starring Kay Francis
Bonita Granville
Cinematography Sidney Hickox
Edited by Frank Magee
Music by Howard Jackson (uncredited)
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • July 9, 1938 (1938-07-09)
Running time
60-65 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

My Bill is a 1938 American drama film starring Kay Francis as a poor widow raising four children. It was based on the play Courage by Tom Barry. [1]

Contents

Plot

In the late 1930s, Mary Colbrook is the widow of Reginald Colbrook, Sr. She has four children: Muriel, a young adult; teenagers Gwendolyn and Reginald, Jr.; and, the youngest, Bill. Mary has financial difficulty in maintaining the home. Bill befriends Adelaide Crosby, an elderly woman, who considers Bill a nuisance after he accidentally broke her window with a thrown football. However, Bill's concern for Mrs. Crosby eventually endears him to her.

The late Reginald Sr.'s sister, "Aunt" Caroline Colbrook arrives. She criticizes Mary's parenting in front of the children, and says that Mary squandered her brother's money which resulted in their current financial strife. Caroline insists on the three oldest children living with her, insinuating that Bill is not her brother's son. Now angry with their mother, the three oldest children agree to live with Caroline who is more financially able to fulfill their desires. Caroline moves into Mary's house when Mary's lease expires and kicks Bill and Mary out. Bill and Mary take up residence with Mrs. Crosby.

Bill sells newspapers to help raise money for his mother, and is assisted by local banker, John C. Rudlin. Soon, Caroline's strict demands on the three oldest children cause them to have a change of heart. They write a letter to Mary asking for forgiveness. Mrs. Crosby dies, and leaves her entire estate to Bill. Bill is surprised Mrs. Crosby's estate includes not only her house, but also the house where his family lives. Bill returns to his home, now as its owner. Mary joins him and accepts her children's forgiveness.

Caroline returns, and it is revealed that Reginald, Sr. was just as mean as his sister, and Mr. Rudlin was always Mary's true love. However, Mary remained loyal to her husband out of financial necessity; and, he fathered all four children. Rudlin says he still loves Mary. Caroline is kicked out of the house and the Colbrook family is restored.

Cast

Production

The film was based a 1928 play by Tom Barry, called Courage. Warners had previously filmed it in 1930 under that title with Belle Bennett. The number of children in the play was eight; this was reduced to four.

It was the first movie Kay Francis made for Warners' B unit under Byrnie Foy. Francis was being paid a high salary and Warners were keen for her to quit but she refused in order that she could still get her salary. She would make five films for him in all. [2]

Vincent Sherman said he had to rewrite the script in only a few days – he was given the play on Thursday and he handed in a script on Monday. [3]

John Farrow was attached to direct in March 1938. [4] Farrow later said he directed Francis by polite but businesslike suggestions, Louise via picturesque comments that would amuse her and arouse her imagination, Granville needed encouragement and praise, and Bobby Jordan required occasional sarcasm. [5]

The film was popular enough to be adapted for radio in 1939 on Hollywood Hotel ,[ citation needed ] and in 1941—featuring Francis, Warren William and, in the title role, Dix Davis—on Lux Radio Theatre . [6]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "pure, unadulterated hokum" which "will get to you sure as blazes". [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>White Banners</i> 1938 film by Edmund Goulding

White Banners is a 1938 Warner Bros. drama film directed by Edmund Goulding and starring Claude Rains, Fay Bainter, Jackie Cooper, Bonita Granville, Henry O'Neill, and Kay Johnson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Lamour</span> American actress and singer (1914–1996)

Dorothy Lamour was an American actress and singer. She is best remembered for having appeared in the Road to... movies, a series of successful comedies starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Sheridan</span> American actress and singer (1915–1967)

Clara Lou "Ann" Sheridan was an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in the films San Quentin (1937) with Humphrey Bogart, Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) with James Cagney and Bogart, They Drive by Night (1940) with George Raft and Bogart, City for Conquest (1940) with Cagney and Elia Kazan, The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) with Bette Davis, Kings Row (1942) with Ronald Reagan, Nora Prentiss (1947), and I Was a Male War Bride (1949) with Cary Grant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonita Granville</span> American actress and producer (1923–1988)

Bonita Gloria Granville Wrather was an American actress and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Farrow</span> Australian film director (1904–1963)

John Villiers Farrow, KGCHS was an Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter. Spending a considerable amount of his career in the United States, in 1942 he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for Wake Island, and in 1957 he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Around the World in Eighty Days. He had seven children by his wife, actress Maureen O'Sullivan, including actress Mia Farrow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Litel</span> American actor (1892–1972)

John Beach Litel was an American film and television actor.

<i>My Reputation</i> 1946 film

My Reputation is a 1946 American romantic drama film directed by Curtis Bernhardt. Barbara Stanwyck portrays an upper-class widow whose romance with an army officer causes trouble for her gossiping friends, domineering mother and young sons. Catherine Turney wrote the script, an adaptation of Clare Jaynes' 1942 novel Instruct My Sorrows. Stanwyck's costumes were designed by Edith Head.

<i>Courage</i> (1930 film) 1930 film by Archie Mayo

Courage is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film, produced by Warner Bros. in 1929 and released early in 1930. The movie is based on a stage play of the same name by Tom Barry which was a hit on Broadway in 1928.

<i>The Sisters</i> (1938 film) 1938 drama film by Anatole Litvak

The Sisters is a 1938 American drama film produced and directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Errol Flynn and Bette Davis. The screenplay by Milton Krims is based on the 1937 novel of the same title by Myron Brinig.

Sorority House is a 1939 American drama film starring Anne Shirley and James Ellison. The film was directed by John Farrow and based upon the Mary Coyle Chase play named Chi House.

<i>Mandalay</i> (film) 1934 film by Michael Curtiz

Mandalay is a 1934 American pre Code drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and written by Austin Parker and Charles Kenyon based on a story by Paul Hervey Fox. The film stars Kay Francis, Ricardo Cortez, Warner Oland and Lyle Talbot, and features Ruth Donnelly and Reginald Owen.

<i>Women in the Wind</i> 1939 film directed by John Farrow

Women in the Wind is a 1939 film directed by John Farrow and starring Kay Francis, William Gargan and Victor Jory. The plot concerns women pilots competing in the so-called "Powder Puff Derby", an annual transcontinental air race solely for women.

<i>Reno</i> (1939 film) 1939 film by John Farrow

Reno is a 1939 American drama film directed by John Farrow and starring Richard Dix, Gail Patrick and Anita Louise.

<i>Comet Over Broadway</i> 1938 film by Busby Berkeley, John Farrow

Comet over Broadway is a 1938 American drama film starring Kay Francis, Ian Hunter and Donald Crisp. It was produced and released by Warner Brothers. John Farrow stepped in as director when Busby Berkeley became ill, but Farrow was uncredited on the film.

<i>Doctor Rhythm</i> 1938 film by Frank Tuttle

Doctor Rhythm is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Mary Carlisle, Beatrice Lillie, and Andy Devine. Based on the 1907 short story The Badge of Policeman O'Roon by O. Henry, the film is about a doctor who pretends to be a policeman assigned as the bodyguard of a wealthy matron, whose beautiful niece becomes the object of his affections. The film features the songs "On the Sentimental Side" and "My Heart Is Taking Lessons".

<i>The Beloved Brat</i> 1938 film directed by Arthur Lubin

The Beloved Brat is a 1938 American comedy-drama film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Bonita Granville, Dolores Costello, and Donald Crisp. The screenplay was written by Lawrence Kimble from an original story by Jean Negulesco.

<i>Dr. Monica</i> 1934 film

Dr. Monica is a 1934 American pre-Code melodrama film produced by Warner Bros. starring Kay Francis, Warren William, and Jean Muir. An obstetrician, who is unable to have children, discovers that the baby she is about to deliver was fathered by her husband.

<i>Women Are Like That</i> (1938 film) 1938 film by Stanley Logan

Women Are Like That is a 1938 American drama film directed by Stanley Logan and written by Horace Jackson. The film stars Kay Francis, Pat O'Brien, Ralph Forbes, Melville Cooper, Thurston Hall and Grant Mitchell. The film was released by Warner Bros. on April 24, 1938.

<i>Nancy Drew... Detective</i> 1938 film

Nancy Drew... Detective is a 1938 American comedy film directed by William Clemens and written by Kenneth Garnet. The film stars Bonita Granville, John Litel, James Stephenson, Frankie Thomas, Frank Orth and Helena Phillips Evans. The film was released by Warner Bros. on November 19, 1938.

References

  1. ↑ My Bill at Kay Francis Films Archived 2014-04-05 at the Wayback Machine accessed 16 March 2014
  2. ↑ "My Bill". Turner Classic Movies.
  3. ↑ Davis, Ronald L. (2005). Just Making Movies. University of Mississippi Press. p. 89.
  4. ↑ "NEWS OF THE SCREEN: Horton Added to 'Holiday' at Columbia--'Courier de Paris' at Metro--Three New Films Here Today The Toy Wife" at Metro Of Local Origin Coast Scripts". New York Times. Mar 19, 1938. p. 10.
  5. ↑ "Director Tells Psychology of Direction". Los Angeles Times. 13 July 1938. p. 12.
  6. ↑ Kear, Lynn; Rossman, John (2006). The Complete Kay Francis Career Record: All Film, Stage, Radio and Television Appearances . Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 223. ISBN   978-0-7864-3198-4. "REVIEWS: According to [Connie] Billups and [Arthur] Pierce, 'Francis gives a fine performance, as do Warren William as the man in her life and Dix Davis as her fiercely loyal son.'"
  7. ↑ Scheuer, Philip K. (June 14, 1938). "KAY FRANCIS PLAYS MOTHER OF FAMILY IN "MY BILL"". Los Angeles Times. p. 8.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.