Secrets of an Actress

1938
Approved
1h 10m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

George Brent and Kay Francis in Secrets of an Actress (1938)

Two architects lose their heads over a glamorous actress.Two architects lose their heads over a glamorous actress.Two architects lose their heads over a glamorous actress.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

441

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Top cast45

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Kay Francis

Fay Carter

George Brent

Dick Orr

Ian Hunter

Peter Snowden

Gloria Dickson

Carla Orr

Isabel Jeans

Marian Plantagenet

Penny Singleton

Miss Reid

Dennie Moore

Miss Blackstone

Selmer Jackson

Thompson

Herbert Rawlinson

Harrison

Emmett Vogan

Spencer
(as Emmet Vogan)

James B. Carson

Carstairs

Brooks Benedict

Dining Extra
(uncredited)

Mary Currier

Playgoer in Theater Lobby
(uncredited)

Jack Deery

Waiter
(uncredited)

Jerry Fletcher

Theater Usher
(uncredited)

George Ford

Party Guest
(uncredited)

Jack A. Goodrich

Playgoer
(uncredited)
…

Eddie Graham

Playgoer
(uncredited)
…

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Fay states she has $3,000 saved up when turning down the part in Carstair's play. That would equate to nearly $59,000 in 2021.

Goofs
At the opening night of Fay's play "Springboard", pages from the program are shown to indicate the play's progress. The one for the second act reads: "Springboard, Act II, Interior Fay Carter's living room, next day." Fay Carter is the *actress*. Unless the character has the same name as the star, this was an error.

Quotes
Dick Orr: Goodbye, Fay. Make him very happy... he deserves it. I'll send you an icicle from Norway.

Crazy credits
Opening credits show a woman's hands opening a locked diary, which when opened, displays the credits as the pages are flipped.

Connections
Referenced in Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983)

Soundtracks
Please Be Kind
(1938) (uncredited)
Music by Saul Chaplin
Played while Fran and Dick go over figures at lunch

Kay Francis was slapped into B films and her billing demoted in order to drive her out of Warner Brothers; she was making $200,000 a year, and they were no longer interested in her. She wouldn't leave.

"Secrets of an Actress" is a pretty good B also starring Ian Hunter and George Brent. Francis teams up with an architect (Hunter) who wants to become a producer. Together, they make a great team. However, his partner (Brent) is less enthusiastic and at first suspicious of Francis. Then he falls for her and she for him. However, he's married to a real shrew (Gloria Dickson) - they're no longer together, but getting a divorce is proving difficult.

Most of the B films Francis made were really more like A-, thanks to her. She had an elegant and likable presence that elevated everything she did. The acting is all-around good, especially from Isabel Jeans, who is a riot as Francis' friend Marion.

Good for Francis fans.