The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932)

Director:

Lowell Sherman

Writers:

Zoe Akins (play)
Sidney Howard (adaptation)

Release Date:

13 February 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

THE MEN THEY "TOOK" CALLED THEM..."Gold-Diggers! - "Loreleis!" - "Man-Hunters!" - Adventuresses!"

Plot:

Sophisticated comedy: a trio of money hungry women who all have sugar daddies who keep them in the lap of luxury...

Plot Keywords:

Gold Digger | Beautiful Woman | Based On Play

Cast

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

Also Known As:

The Greeks Had a Word for It (USA) (working title)
Three Broadway Girls (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

The studio originally wanted Jean Harlow for this film, after her success in Red-Headed Woman (1932), but she was under contract to Howard Hughes and he refused to loan her out.

Quotes:

Jean Lawrence: A speakeasy that closes at two o'clock is practically a tea room!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Why Be Good? Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema (2007)

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.