Watch Passion Flower For Free

Let's be realistic.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

When MGM started casting for this movie, its own stars were on other assignments and hence Kay Frances was borrowed from Paramount studios to play the leading role. This movie is one for the ladies, a typical Kathleen Norris romantic novel scripted to fit into a typical Kay Frances movie. Dulce (Kay Frances) falls in love with Dan Wallace (Charles Bickford), the family chauffeur against her father's wishes. When Dan is about to divorce his wife (played by Kay Johnson), he will receive a letter form his wife and have a change of heart. Hit by the memories of his loving wife and family, he goes home for a happy ending. Dulce is heartbroken under several yards of mink. William De Mille directed this drama with Martin Flavin, Laurence Johnson and Edith Fitzgerald screenplay. Lewis Stone and Zasu Pitts are outstanding in supporting roles

I may be a nerd about history, but I have always wondered just how long it took for the jazz age of the '20's to wind down, and for the reality of the oncoming depression to settle in on the minds of the average American. A lot of the movies dated as of the year 1930 that I have seen on TCM have plots and situations that look as though the depression hasn't started yet. In some cases it seems like it's still the 1920's! And I am not talking musicals, either. In this movie, released December 6, 1930, the plot involves the depression, in the fact that Charles Bickford decides to accept Kay Francis' offer to work on her ranch because he has lost his job. Meanwhile, Kay Johnson (the wife) and her landlady played by Zasu Pitts seem to be just waking up to it all as they discuss the state of the economy. Kay says how it has been "dreadful this year." And Zasu Pitts says, "Oh it's bad. I've been trying to collect rent and haven't had much luck." Later when Charles Bickford loses his job his boss tells him, "I may not have a job myself in a couple of weeks." So, perhaps in January 1930 no one noticed a depression yet, but by December 1930, everyone did. This is what I find interesting. Call me a nerd.

I happened to see this and three other Kay Francis films recently when they were shown on TCM. And, surprisingly, all four films were about adultery and three of them had Kay playing a horrid skank! So, when I saw her appear on the screen, I just KNEW she was no good!!! This sort of type-casting must have been what killed Ms. Francis' career--that and the more restrictive and less sleazy style of films that were mandated by the new Production Code in 1934.In this film at least, Kay does not play an obvious adultress. In fact, she isn't a major player in the first half of the film--which was by far the best portion of this movie. Kay Johnson plays a rich woman who marries her chauffeur (Charles Bickford). Her father disowns her because of this and the first portion is all about this nice couple struggling to barely get by.Unfortunately, after five years of marriage and struggle, they agree to move into a wonderful ranch owned by Kay Francis and her husband (Lewis Stone). This is because although the marriage of Bickford and Johnson seemed loving and good, Ms. Francis began making overtures towards Bickford and he eventually gets him to leave his family. It was interesting to see how a seemingly decent man could make a series of bad choices that made the affair seem almost inevitable, though this also undid so much of the rest of the film--and this was irritating to me. I really wish the film hadn't gone this direction or that the basic selfishness of Bickford had been more apparent sooner--I'd invested a lot in the family and this disruption just didn't ring true. If Bickford really was the nice guy with integrity we'd come to like and respect, then why this change?!FYI--Late in the film, look for a young and easy to miss Ray Milland as a guest at the party. It's obvious this is early in his career and it's just a bit part. Also, keep an eye on Zasu Pitts in the film--she's hilarious as the most glum and depressing supporting character I have seen in years!!

The plot of this picture may have been fresh back when Grandma was a girl. Come to think of it, when the picture was made, in 1930, Grandma WAS a girl. But it wouldn't be surprising if HER grandmother had come across it somewhere.It's the one about the rich girl who gives up everything to marry for love - marriage to a poor but independent, honest and reliable man who has nothing but disdain for his wife's glamorous cousin, one of the idle rich who wed a much older man for his money. Unable to escape her wiles, unable to get ahead in the world despite his strong character and earnest efforts, he leaves wife and children to join the sorceress in an aimless pursuit of pleasure here and abroad - until he comes to his senses, returns home and asks his wife's forgiveness.Have I given away the plot? Then I won't tell you whether she takes him back.There are fine performances by Kay Francis, Charles Bickford and Kay Johnson, and a typical featherbrained role for ZaSu Pitts that is out of place in this picture.It is always helpful, from the standpoint of entertainment, for a story to offer a few surprises, something original that will keep the viewer wondering how things will turn out. That is precisely the kind of help this story needs.