The Working Man (1933)

Successful wealthy shoe manufacturer John Reeves takes a vacation leaving his business in the hands of his nephew. While on vacation Reeves runs into his rivals heirs who are living it up ... See full summary »

Director:

John G. Adolfi

Writers:

Charles Kenyon (screen play), Maude T. Howell (screen play),

Stars:

George Arliss, Bette Davis, Theodore Newton

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Arliss	...	Reeves
Bette Davis	...	Jenny
Theodore Newton	...	Tommy
Hardie Albright	...	Benjamin
Gordon Westcott	...	Pettison
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Hank Davidson
Charles E. Evans	...	Mr. Haslitt (as Charles Evans)
Frederick Burton	...	Judge Larson
Pat Wing	...	Reeves's Secretary
Edward Van Sloan	...	Mr. Briggs
Claire McDowell	...	Benjamin's Secretary
Ruthelma Stevens	...	Mrs. Price

Storyline

Successful wealthy shoe manufacturer John Reeves takes a vacation leaving his business in the hands of his nephew. While on vacation Reeves runs into his rivals heirs who are living it up on their dead father's money. He doesn't tell them who he is and gets placed as their trustee. He uses the chance to reorganize their shoe company, becoming a rival for his own nephew. The ne'er-do-wells settle down and become involved in the business.

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Plot Keywords:

shoe | heir | manufacturer | retirement | mentor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 April 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le roi de la chaussure

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$199,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Vitaphone Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Although the movie takes place in New York, the letterhead that Jenny types on clearly reads "Calif."

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Connections

Remake of Twenty Dollars a Week (1924)

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Soundtracks

"My Fraternity Pin"
(1933) (uncredited)
Written by George J. Bennett and Lou Klein

User Reviews

The Old Man and the Shoe

Interesting story of a sly old fox (George Arliss), owner of the Reeves Shoe Company, who seems like he'd rather be fishing with his pal in Maine than running the business, so heads off for a fishing holiday, leaving his conceited nephew in charge of biz. While out fishing, he accidentally meets up with the son and daughter of Hartland, his recently deceased one-time friend and biggest rival in the shoe business. Giving them a fake name, the two youths have no idea he is rival Reeves, but they are really more interested in contacting bootleggers, throwing drunken parties, and running through their inheritance anyway. After heading back home with these two to get an "inside look" at the workings of their shoe factory and make an offer to buy the company, Reeves sees that the company is being run into the ground and decides he would rather help these Hartlands out instead - see, he was once in love with their mother, not to mention his swollen-headed nephew thinks he's too old to run a business anymore - he'll show the young whippersnapper! So he gets the Hartland's to make him their new trustee/guardian (and they do it 'cause they think he is just a simple "old fisherman" who will give them all the money they want to run wild with), then takes a firm hold of the running of the company and the young Hartlands!

Really good film with excellent script and performances all around. George Arliss is an old charmer, really endearing in this film - he makes you really want to root for him. Bette Davis looks real cute in this, and does a great job, as always, in her part. The story is lots of fun to watch, and left me with a smile at the end - credit for this film really belongs to George Arliss who dominates the film and makes it a good one.