Feature1929·80m·6.6

The Idle Rich

Wealth and position clash with poverty in a sterling talking feature drama made from the stage success, "White Collars"!

Comedy

Millionaire William van Luyn falls in love with his secretary Joan Thayer and marries her. Her family, part of "the great middle class" (as blowhard nephew Henry keeps reminding us), is happy for Joan, but reluctant to take charity from Will. He moves in with them, and they keep resisting, until one day he takes drastic action.

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Cast

Conrad Nagel

William van Luyn

Bessie Love

Helen Thayer

Leila Hyams

Joan Thayer

Robert Ober

Henry Thayer

James Neill

Mr. Phil Thayer

Edythe Chapman

Mrs. Alice Thayer

Paul Kruger

Tom Gibney

Kenneth Gibson

Frank Thayer

Details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Languages
English
Budget
Revenue
Age rating
Quality
4K UHD · HDR10 · Dolby Vision
Production
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Crew

Director

William C. deMille

Writers

Edgar Franklin, Clara Beranger

Conrad A. Nervig

Editor

Leonard Smith

Director of Photography

Gallery

Reviews

CinemaSerf

6/6/2022

6.0

Conrad Nagel is a millionaire who falls in love with his secretary "Joan" (Leila Hyams) and they agree to marry. Thing is, she comes from a determinedly independent middle class family who, whilst happy for their daughter, steadfastly refuse to let him help them. Undaunted, he agrees to move into the home she shares with her parents, siblings - and her rather vocal cousin "Harry" (Robert Ober) who is constantly sparring with his new in-law. In frustration, he declares that he is going to set up a hospital for the under-respected white collar worker and gave away the rest of his fortune.. How will the family react to this magnanimity...? It's quite a fun story, this - Nagel and Ober have some quite enjoyable spats; with the former clearly trying to keep his temper, before a denouement that isn't entirely unexpected. The production is a bit hemmed in, largely set in just their one room - but the audio is worth sacrificing space for, and Wiliam de Mille (older brother of Cecil) keeps the pace from slackening quite well for 80 minutes.