The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932)

Sophisticated comedy: a trio of money hungry women who all have sugar daddies who keep them in the lap of luxury, even as they drive the men crazy. Each woman represents a different ... See full summary »

Director:

Lowell Sherman

Writers:

Zoe Akins (play), Sidney Howard (adaptation)

Stars:

Joan Blondell, Madge Evans, Ina Claire

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Blondell	...	Schatzi Sutro
Madge Evans	...	Polaire Quinn
Ina Claire	...	Jean Lawrence
David Manners	...	Dey Emery
Lowell Sherman	...	Boris Feldman
Phillips Smalley	...	Justin Emery
Sidney Bracey	...	The Waiter

Storyline

Sophisticated comedy: a trio of money hungry women who all have sugar daddies who keep them in the lap of luxury, even as they drive the men crazy. Each woman represents a different personality type, from sensitive, to kind-hearted, to difficult and untrustworthy. Set in the age of jazz, the twenties come roaring back with immorality and in-fighting.

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Plot Keywords:

public domain | gold digger | based on play

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Taglines:

WHAT GOWNS! - Designed and created by CHANEL OF PARIS

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 February 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Greeks Had a Word for It

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The, Feature Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The studio originally wanted Jean Harlow for this film, after her success in Red-Headed Woman, but she was under contract to Howard Hughes and he refused to loan her out.

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Quotes

Polaire: I can always tell real pearls - even when they're such little ones!

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Connections

Version of How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

User Reviews

oldie b/w version of "how to marry a millionaire"

This fun, pre-code romp from 1932 starring Joan Blondell, Madge Evans, Ina Claire, was remade in color in 1953 as How to Marry a Millionaire. Similar plot, but in the original, the girls steal boyfriends (David Manners and Phillips Smalley) from each other, where as in the remake, they each find their own man, and then have to decide if they want to keep them or not. Interesting that Betty Grable, who starred in the 1953 version had appeared as a hat check girl in the 1932 version. This was one of the last films directed by Lowell Sherman ( also played Boris Feldman in the film) as he died two years after filming this. Ina Claire (played Jean) would have been the oldest of the three co-stars, 39 years old in 1932, and she only made three more after this. "The Greeks" was made during prohibition, so of course part of it takes place in a loud, smoke-filled "speakeasy". Lots of dark eye makeup, and the picture and sound quality are pretty terrible in the version I watched, but this IS a pretty old flick. A little slow, but fun if you have the patience. Gives you an idea of how some of the young, poor women got by in those days if they weren't willing to go look for work.