Kay Francis and Pat O'Brien star in "Women are Like That," a 1938 film also starring Thurston Hall and Ralph Forbes. Kay plays Claire, who on her wedding day to Martin (Forbes) runs off instead with Bill Landin (O'Brien). They start off well enough, but then Claire's dad (Hall) runs off, cleaning out the bank account of his advertising agency, where Bill and Martin work. Bill gives the other officers his stock in exchange for Claire not finding out about her dad and continues to work for the company. Unfortunately, now he's in the hands of the penny-pinching Martin, and they slowly start to lose clients. Bill has one more chance, Bel-Ami Cosmetics, but after drawing up the proposals, he trashes them since he knows Martin won't pay for a splashy presentation. Claire resurrects the drawings and sells the campaign to Bon Ami. Her husband promptly dumps her.
This is a pleasant comedy/drama, helped by the fine performances of Francis, O'Brien and Hall especially. This was made at the end of Francis' time with Warner Brothers, where she held on by her teeth until the end of her lucrative contract. In the end, she elevated the trash Warners gave her with her intelligence, sophistication and glamor. "Women are Like That" is a bit uneven - it's hard to believe that with Claire obviously trying to help her husband, he turns on her as if she's done something awful. It's not like he even TRIED to sell the campaign. The question is, do they have enough going to reconcile. Since she doesn't know what he spared her, it will be that much harder for them. You can guess the rest.
Francis is always worth seeing, and it's O'Brien in a rare lead - not quite an A film, and if it was intended as a second feature, the presence of Francis and the production values elevate it.
