ScenicRoute I just reviewed "The Show-Off" which has a similar - Irish vs. WASP thing going. In Passion Flower it is a bit more subtle, but Kay Francis is still most definitely the other - liberal, louche, a free-thinker.In reading the other reviews, I note the historical value mentioned about the depression. This movie scores an 8 for me because of the priceless line about the battle of the sexes.And of course it is Zazu delivering it - I think someone should gather her speaking roles in all her bit parts and string 'em together, end-to-end.As I recall (I saw the move several years ago, but believe I watched this scene several times, I was so wowed by it), Zazu is mopping the floor and chatting "men trouble" with Kay Johnson. "I don't know about men," says Zazu. "They can be handy during the day and entertaining at night, but that's about it. I don't know about men." HANDY DURING THE DAY and ENTERTAINTING AT NIGHT? Now don't that just sum up the plight of 21st century manhood? And Zazu figured it out in 1930! Evewryone should watch this movie for that one scene. It is one of the best.

medwardb1976 I may be a nerd about history, but I have always wondered just how long it took for the jazz age of the '20's to wind down, and for the reality of the oncoming depression to settle in on the minds of the average American. A lot of the movies dated as of the year 1930 that I have seen on TCM have plots and situations that look as though the depression hasn't started yet. In some cases it seems like it's still the 1920's! And I am not talking musicals, either. In this movie, released December 6, 1930, the plot involves the depression, in the fact that Charles Bickford decides to accept Kay Francis' offer to work on her ranch because he has lost his job. Meanwhile, Kay Johnson (the wife) and her landlady played by Zasu Pitts seem to be just waking up to it all as they discuss the state of the economy. Kay says how it has been "dreadful this year." And Zasu Pitts says, "Oh it's bad. I've been trying to collect rent and haven't had much luck." Later when Charles Bickford loses his job his boss tells him, "I may not have a job myself in a couple of weeks." So, perhaps in January 1930 no one noticed a depression yet, but by December 1930, everyone did. This is what I find interesting. Call me a nerd.

laurielouwho67 I really liked this movie. I thought it was an interesting study of human nature. You never know what someone is thinking or who will betray you no matter how well you think you know them. As for the comment about the performances being "wooden" you have to think about the time in which it was made. They were just coming out of silent films where they acted on a different level than with "talkies". It was a relatively new era in film. I thought that Kay Francis was lovely in this and that she was a truly beautiful woman. I don't know a great deal about her personal life but as for her movies I have become a dedicated fan. I'm in no way a film expert or aficionado but I know what I like and can move past certain elements to see the nuances of the story and characters. I don't think this was rubbish at all.

MartinHafer I happened to see this and three other Kay Francis films recently when they were shown on TCM. And, surprisingly, all four films were about adultery and three of them had Kay playing a horrid skank! So, when I saw her appear on the screen, I just KNEW she was no good!!! This sort of type-casting must have been what killed Ms. Francis' career--that and the more restrictive and less sleazy style of films that were mandated by the new Production Code in 1934.In this film at least, Kay does not play an obvious adultress. In fact, she isn't a major player in the first half of the film--which was by far the best portion of this movie. Kay Johnson plays a rich woman who marries her chauffeur (Charles Bickford). Her father disowns her because of this and the first portion is all about this nice couple struggling to barely get by.Unfortunately, after five years of marriage and struggle, they agree to move into a wonderful ranch owned by Kay Francis and her husband (Lewis Stone). This is because although the marriage of Bickford and Johnson seemed loving and good, Ms. Francis began making overtures towards Bickford and he eventually gets him to leave his family. It was interesting to see how a seemingly decent man could make a series of bad choices that made the affair seem almost inevitable, though this also undid so much of the rest of the film--and this was irritating to me. I really wish the film hadn't gone this direction or that the basic selfishness of Bickford had been more apparent sooner--I'd invested a lot in the family and this disruption just didn't ring true. If Bickford really was the nice guy with integrity we'd come to like and respect, then why this change?!FYI--Late in the film, look for a young and easy to miss Ray Milland as a guest at the party. It's obvious this is early in his career and it's just a bit part. Also, keep an eye on Zasu Pitts in the film--she's hilarious as the most glum and depressing supporting character I have seen in years!!