Stranded (1935)

Set in depression era San Francisco, an unlikely romance develops between a Travelers Aid worker (Kay Francis) and a rough and tumble construction engineer (George Brent). Based on LADY WITH A BADGE by Frank Wead and Ferdinand Reyher and directed by Frank Borzage (A FAREWELL TO ARMS). This romantic drama doesn't really come alive until the film's last half hour. At first, it seems like a meandering romance and I couldn't help but wonder what attracted Borzage to the material. But as the movie progresses to its finale, it turns into a combination feminist manifesto and gritty drama about racketeering in the construction business. Brent's macho construction worker belittles Francis's chosen profession and insists she give up her "silly" job helping losers when they get married which she refuses to do thus causing a rift in their relationship. Meanwhile, Brent must contend with thugs demanding protection money or they'll sabotage his construction work on a bridge. Kay Francis is all noble but Brent displays more life here than his later films where he's a generic leading man to Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Greta Garbo, Claudette Colbert and other grande dames of the screen. With Barton MacLane, Patricia Ellis, Frankie Darro and Donald Woods.