A rather benign story of a model who meets up with a swindler and she comes under his orbit as the years pass and his involvement in selling fake bonds is exposed. He gets her to marry him for social status.You see little to no violence here with the exception of rioting by disenchanted buyers and the final killing scene.The film would have been a lot better if Francis, with those large eyes and had the writing cast her in not only a vulnerable situation, but placed her in grave danger as well.Claude Rains plays the rather erudite thief and even his downfall is rather droll to watch.

Better than average Kay Francis picture. Thanks to a stronger script than was usually handed to her as well as a superior co-star in Claude Rains this swindle drama moves along at a nice clip assisted by that master of any genre, Michael Curtiz. Of course this wouldn't be a Kay vehicle if they didn't slap one amazing outfit after another on her back and she wears them with the same effortless grace and elegance she always exhibited.The story isn't terribly inventive but Kay and Claude have a good chemistry which works to the advantage of making the film more involving than it would be. It's nice to see her matched with an artist of equal skill to hers instead of the usual bland leading men such as George Brent and Alan Dinehart she was often teamed with. This was one of the last good films she made as queen of the lot before her feud with the brothers Warner caused them to start sticking her in any piece of low rent junk to get her to walk on her contract.

This film is based on the "Stavisky Affair"--a scandal in France caused by a crook who had scaled the heights of society by creating a false impression of immense wealth. In other words, his fake jewels and finery convinced a lot of suckers to invest in his monetary schemes--including a lot of government officials. In this film, the man's name is changed to "Orloff" and the story is spiced up a bit, but it's still the same basic tale. If you want a story that is closer to the original, try watching "Stavinsky" with Jean-Paul Belmondo.The film begins with Claude Rains hiring Kay Francis to pose as his wife. Apparently, he has a scheme that he wants to put over and wants a sophisticated woman to help him create the necessary look of success. So, from the beginning, she knows he's a tad larcenous, though the degree to which he lies, cheats and steals is way beyond her comprehension. For a while, they are both quite successful--he with his many investments and she with her fashion studio. Years pass and they both are quite happy. Later, however, the depth to which he went to make his fortune--and he attempts to bring Kay into this in a sad attempt to save himself.The film is interesting and the acting very good as well. I didn't particularly care for the relationship between Francis and Ian Hunter (it seemed out of place) but Rains and Francis did a fine job here. Provided you don't mind the man liberties the studio took in telling the story of Stavinsky, this is interesting and worth seeing--even with a rather weak ending.

Actually the stolen holiday of the title is only a small part of the film and is, quite frankly, a little boring and holds up the action. I found myself longing for it to finish and get back to the main plot! Fine performances from Kay, Claude Rains and Alison Skipworth, and Ian Hunter is his usual debonair self. Also, in a small part, Alexander D'Arcy (he of "The Awful Truth" fame).Some of the strongest scenes are in the early parts of the movie, especially when Kay Francis almost arrogantly descends the staircase at a grand reception she is giving, and, seemingly ignoring everybody, manages to turn every head in the place with the new creation she is wearing! Marvellous!! To the best of my knowledge this movie has never been shown on British TV.So, over here at least, a forgotten film worth investigating.