The Goose and the Gander

source: The Goose and the Gander

Trailer—The Goose and the Gander

The Goose and the Gander

I happened across this film as it aired on TCM, and I found myself unable to stop watching. I've never been a great fan of Kay Francis, but this is delightfully entertaining. It fits in with those zany, intricate plots of 1930s comedies with mistaken identities, multiple couples, and all a "to-do" with the wealthy upper classes...fitting right in with the usual Depression Era escapist fare - which I admit I usually enjoy! Others' reviews give one enough of an idea of the plot and the context behind the making of the film. All I want to add is that for those that may want to acquire this film, TCM is now providing it from their TCM Vaults (Warners Archive). Visit WWW.TCM.COM for more...

This is an interesting little Kay Francis programmer, co-starring her frequent leading man George Brent. It's a small and delicate Warners melodrama. It aroused my interest because of Francis. I liked "Goose and the Gander" but it is not one of Francis' best roles. The plot is a bit baffling and sometimes hard to follow but it is fun and entertaining picture thanks to the charm of Francis & Brent. This is one of three films Francis made with Brent in 1935. The others are "Living on Velvet" and "Stranded".

This is just a real cute movie, especially on a drab, frigid winter's day. Kay Francis sparkles and her wardrobe, is as ever, beautiful. George Brent is bright & breezy and seems to be giving the audience inclusive, knowing wink. It's a fun way to spend an hour.

Delightful comedy in which Kay Francis is a divorcee who devises a cunning plot to get her ex husband back from his new wife (Genevive Tobin) whom she overhears planning a rendezvous with another man (George Brent). Things get very complicated and several people end up pretending to be someone else, including a couple of jewel thieves. With all the complications, imposters etc, this film reminds me a bit of a story by P.G. Wodehouse, his books were always rich with imposters, and he had more than one jewel thieving couple. He could have written this entertaining tale, it even has a formidable elderly aunt (Helen Lowell). Great fun.

Kay Francis is a divorcee who happens to overhear her ex husband's new wife (Genevieve Tobin) plotting an assignation with her would be lover (George Brent). Francis hatches an elaborate plot to lure Tobin and Brent to her holiday home, and then expose them to her ex, so that she can get him back. However, things start to go wrong, not least because Francis begins to be attracted to Brent, and he to her. and the plot becomes even more confused by a couple of jewel thieves, until just about everyone is pretending to be someone else, in fact it reminds me a bit of a PG.Wodehouse novel, which generally contain several imposters. It is all quite hilarious.

This is the best of the Kay Francis vehicles, and I had never heard of it before a couple days ago. Kay is stylish, George Brent actually looks handsome. And there is a real plot, not just cutesy and/or tear-jerking posturing. Married couples, formerly married couples. And -- a couple who are jewel thieves. It zings along and is great, amusing, romantic fun.

A silly but smoothly directed farce that throws together adultery, smallpox and jewel thieves acted by a game cast against the usual luxurious backdrops. Routine but fun.