Table of Contents

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface      1

1. The Michigan Playboy and the Actress, 1905–1908      3
2. Kay Comes of Age, 1909–1921      13
3. Her Most Wonderful Years, 1922–1925      20
4. Kay Goes Wild, 1925–1927      29
5. The Big Break, 1928–1929      41
6. “Overnight” Success, 1929–1930      49
7. Trouble in Paradise, 1931–1932      64
8. Merrily We Roll Along, 1933–1935      77
9. Disillusionment, 1936–1937      91
10. The Actress and the Spy, 1937–1940      104
11. Four Jills in a Jeep, 1941–1943      117
12. Goodbye Hollywood, Hello Broadway, 1944–1946      131
13. Disaster, 1947–1949      142
14. The Comeback, 1949–1955      151
15. I Used to Be Kay Francis, 1955–1968      162

Chronology      169
Filmography      173
Notes      193
Bibliography      217
Index      223