My Bill

My Bill
	Kay Francis in the film trailer
Directed by	John Farrow
Produced by	Bryan Foy
Written by	Vincent Sherman; Robertson White; George Bilson; contribution to treatment; Lee Katz; contribution to scr constr; Milton Gropper
Based on	play Courage by Tom Barry
Starring	Kay Francis; Bonita Granville
Music by	Howard Jackson (uncredited)
Cinematography	Sidney Hickox
Edited by	Frank Magee
Production; company	Warner Bros.
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	July 9, 1938;
Running time	60-65 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

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

Plot

Mary Colbrook is a widowed mother with four children. She struggles to provide for them financially.

Cast

Kay Francis as Mary Colbrook
Dickie Moore as William "Bill" Colbrook
Bonita Granville as Gwendolyn Colbrook
John Litel as John C. Rudlin
Anita Louise as Muriel Colbrook
Bobby Jordan as Reginald Colbrook Jr.
Maurice Murphy as Lynn Willard
Elisabeth Risdon as Aunt Caroline Colbrook
Helena Phillips Evans as Adelaide Crosby
John Ridgely as Mr. Martin
Sidney Bracey as Jenner (as Sidney Bracy)
Bernice Pilot as Beulah
Jan Holm as Miss Kelly

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]

In popular culture

The film was popular enough to be adapted for radio in Hollywood Hotel in 1939 and Lux Radio Theatre in 1941.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "pure, unadulterated hokum" which "will get to you sure as blazes".[6]

References

My Bill at Kay Francis Films Archived 2014-04-05 at the Wayback Machine accessed 16 March 2014
"My Bill". Turner Classic Movies.
Davis, Ronald L. (2005). Just Making Movies. University of Mississippi Press. p. 89.
"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.
"Director Tells Psychology of Direction". Los Angeles Times. 13 July 1938. p. 12.
Scheuer, Philip K. (June 14, 1938). "KAY FRANCIS PLAYS MOTHER OF FAMILY IN "MY BILL"". Los Angeles Times. p. 8.

External links

My Bill at IMDb
My Bill at the TCM Movie Database
My Bill at AllMovie
Lux Radio Theatre production of My Bill at Internet Archive

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[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] Scheuer, Philip K. (June 14, 1938). "KAY FRANCIS PLAYS MOTHER OF FAMILY IN "MY BILL"". Los Angeles Times. p. 8.