The Complete Kay Francis Career Record: All Film, Stage, Radio and Television Appearances [Hardcover]

Lynn Kear (Author), John Rossman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786431989 | ISBN-13: 978-0786431984 | Publication Date: February 13, 2008

This book is the definitive guide to the film, stage, radio and television career of Kay Francis, one of the most glamorous stars from the golden age of Hollywood. For each film, the authors provide a thorough synopsis plus cast and crew information (including biographies), opening dates, production notes, behind-the-scenes details, and reviews. In addition, information is provided on her stage, radio, and television appearances, and a section is devoted to collecting Kay Francis memorabilia, including such items as cigarette cards, sheet music, and soundtracks. Also covered is the stage and vaudeville career of Kay Francis' mother, Katherine Clinton. A brief biography of Kay Francis is provided, along with an insightful foreword by film scholar James Robert Parish. Truly a treasure trove for Kay Francis fans and anyone interested in classic filmmaking in the 1930s and 1940s, the book includes more than 130 illustrations, many of them rare.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Film scholar and award-winning writer Lynn Kear lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Author John Rossman lives in New York. They are co-authors of the biography Kay Francis: A Passionate Life and Career (2006).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 295 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (February 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786431989
• ISBN-13: 978-0786431984
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,560,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lynn Kear grew up in Illinois and has lived in Georgia for more than two decades. Her published works include biographies on Hollywood actresses Kay Francis, Agnes Moorehead, Evelyn Brent as well as books on reincarnation. Her newest non-fiction book is a biography on Laurette Taylor. With a Ph.D. in Communicative Arts Education she occasionally teaches public speaking and film studies. Murder in a Buckhead Garden is her first mystery.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully executed filmography, March 1, 2008

By 

DavidT (Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Complete Kay Francis Career Record: All Film, Stage, Radio and Television Appearances (Hardcover)

Some film books appeal to us for their generous use of illustrations, while others we value primarily for the detailed information they provide. "The Complete Kay Francis Career Record" is that rare book that combines both attributes. Your first impulse upon opening the book may be to savor the more than 100 gorgeous photos of Francis, crisply reproduced here, and understandably so. Having done that, go back to page 1 and let Kear and Rossman take you on a guided tour of Francis' filmography. For each of the actress' films, the authors provide a detailed synopsis, behind-the-scenes stories, a keen-eyed critical analysis, and a sampling of published reviews. The authors clearly love Francis and her work, but they are judicious critics who appreciate the best of her films, and are willing to tell the truth, often with a welcome dose of humor, about those that fall short of their goals. If you're already a Francis fan, this book will be nirvana to you; if you're not, Kear and Rossman are likely to make you a convert.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Lasting Career Tribute to a Legendary Star..., April 11, 2008

By 

James Edward Kirk, Jr. "Cricket's Dad" (The Misguided Heartland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Kay Francis Career Record: All Film, Stage, Radio and Television Appearances (Hardcover)

As if their remarkable biography of the legendary screen star, Kay Francis, wasn't enough, Lynn Kear and John Rossman have returned with another beautifully illustrated volume focusing on the films and career of this often forgotten cinema icon from the 30's and 40's. The Complete Kay Francis Career Record is lavishly illustrated with fabulous photographs from the films of Kay Francis and feature many other fixtures from Hollywood's golden era, among them William Powell, Martha Raye, George Brent, Carole Landis, and Walter Huston and many others. Each of Miss Francis' films is studied and reviewed in-depth with complete film credits, associated trivia, story plotlines, scripted diaglogue, and rare, previously hushed up behind the scenes secrets that are published here for the first time. The book also reviews her stage career which dates back to 1920 and resurfaced in the mid 40's after her fifteen year film career had ebbed. The authors also share with the reader the major radio appearances of Kay Francis as well as her few forays into the new television medium of the early 50's. There is also a revealing section on "The Players" who were a part of Kay Francis' frequently passionate life that includes legendary stars who were Francis co-stars on stage and screen and in many cases, in the bedroom too, and there is also a review of the stage career of Francis' less successful, actress mother, Katherine Clinton... Memorabilia related to Francis' career is researched and presented in an appendix here as are a listing of Miss Francis' residences and perhaps most interesting among the many wonderful illustrations are vintage advertising, soundtrack recording reproductions, and movie magazine covers on which Francis regularly appeared throughout her fashion-fueled career. This is a masterfully researched, entertainingly written, and must have companion volume to Kay Francis: A Passionate Life and Career, the biography published by these authors in 2006... Both of these titles are highly recommended and a must for any serious film buff's library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Kay Francis Career Record, July 27, 2009

By 

B "spikedude" (Northern New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Complete Kay Francis Career Record: All Film, Stage, Radio and Television Appearances (Hardcover)

While I agree with the previous reviewers of all their praises for this book I for one thought it should have had a laminated color section in the middle of the book (like so many others of this genre) with color lobby card/movie poster illustrations (especially with the $55 price tag the book has!).