The Rich Are Always with Us (1932)

The ten year marriage of of Caroline Van Dyke and Greg Grannard is falling apart. A young woman, Allison, plots to become his second wife. Caroline's friend, novelist Julian, has long loved... See full summary »

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

Ethel Pettit (based on the novel of the same name by), Austin Parker (adaptation)

Stars:

Ruth Chatterton, George Brent, Bette Davis

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ruth Chatterton	...	Caroline Grannard
George Brent	...	Julian Tierney
Bette Davis	...	Malbro
John Miljan	...	Greg Grannard
Adrienne Dore	...	Allison Adair
John Wray	...	Clark Davis
Robert Warwick	...	The Doctor
Walter Walker	...	Dante
Virginia Hammond	...	Flo
Berton Churchill	...	Judge Bradshaw (as Burton Churchill)

Storyline

The ten year marriage of of Caroline Van Dyke and Greg Grannard is falling apart. A young woman, Allison, plots to become his second wife. Caroline's friend, novelist Julian, has long loved her and now sees his chance, but she refuses him and goes to Paris to file for divorce. Julian follows but on hearing that Greg has fallen on financial hardship Caroline returns to help him. Greg tells Caroline that his now-wife Allison is pregnant and Caroline realizes that she loves Julian and to travel to China with him and be married. Allison and Greg have a bitter row in the car, which then smashes into a tree killing Allison and injuring Greg. Caroline tells Julian she will stay with Greg until he is well, but marries Julian in the hospital with a promise to join him as soon as she can.

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Plot Keywords:

hospital | divorce | novelist | marriage | infidelity | 

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Taglines:

Sumptuous portrayal of sensuous society in the perfumed fragrance of Park Avenue and Paris boudoirs.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

21 May 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

En natt i kärlek

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene in this movie where George Brent lights two cigarettes and passes one to Ruth Chatterton is similar to one in 1942 movie Now Voyager which star Bette Davis who was a supporting player here. Most people incorrectly think that the idea was original to the 1942 film.

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Soundtracks

"What a Life! (Trying to Live Without You)"
(1932) (uncredited)
Music by Louis Alter
Lyrics by Charlotte Kent
Played when "1930" is shown and often in the score
Sung by an unidentified female in a nightclub

User Reviews

Call me Malbro

Where in the world did the screenwriters come up with such a first name? It is attached to the flirty character very well played by Bette Davis.

Ruth Chatterton was always good. She and Davis are both rich (though exactly what the origin of the axiom in the title is, I'm not sure.) She is married to an insufferable stuffed shirt. George Brent is also interested in her. Why she wants to stay with her husband is unclear. It's not as if he's faithful.

Chatterton is not well served by the film. She is costumed and made up in a highly unflattering way. Superb film actress though she was, even in 1932, she was no spring chicken. And the movie is filmed in a way that accents this.

The situations are a tiny bit racy but don't accept an ooh-la-la sort of pre-Code movie. It's a drawing room comedy of a second- or third-tier. Davis's character's name is probably the most memorable thing about it.