Babbitt (1934)

Middle aged George F. Babbitt is a leading citizen in the town of Zenith, the fastest growing community in America according to its town sign. George is a large part of that growth as a ... See full summary »

Director:

William Keighley

Writers:

Sinclair Lewis (novel), Mary C. McCall Jr. (screenplay),

Stars:

Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee, Claire Dodd

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aline MacMahon	...	Myra Babbitt
Guy Kibbee	...	George F. Babbitt
Claire Dodd	...	Tanis Judique
Maxine Doyle	...	Verona Babbitt
Glen Boles	...	Ted Babbitt
Minor Watson	...	Paul 'Paulivus' F. Reisling
Minna Gombell	...	Zilla Reisling
Alan Hale	...	Charlie McKelvey
Berton Churchill	...	Judge Virgil 'Verge' Thompson
Russell Hicks	...	Commissioner Lyle Gurnee
Nan Grey	...	Eunice Littlefield (as Nan Gray)
Walter Walker	...	Luke Ethorne
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Zeke
Addison Richards	...	District Attorney
Harry Tyler	...	Martin Gunch

Storyline

Middle aged George F. Babbitt is a leading citizen in the town of Zenith, the fastest growing community in America according to its town sign. George is a large part of that growth as a property developer and realtor. He is lovingly married to his wife Myra, the two who have two children, Ted and Verona who are approaching adulthood. George has always had a fearless attitude, much like that of a naive child, which has led to his business success. He encounters some personal stresses when he faces what he believes is a potential home-wrecking issue, and when his oldest friend Paul and his wife Zilla deal with domestic problems. These stresses make George want to provide even more to his own family, leading to George agreeing to participate in a less than scrupulous but lucrative business dealing. George's bravura gets him into a potential scandal. This situation makes him question his general behavior, especially toward his family.

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Plot Keywords:

real estate agent | land sale | fraternity | blackmail | graft | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 December 1934 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

George F. Babbitt: Come, Zill. What you need to do is get your feet hot and your head cool.

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Connections

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

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Soundtracks

"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the Zebras

User Reviews

Ripe for a Remake

First, thanks to TCM for programming this. As big a fan of Lewis's work as I am, I'd never seen it.

It's a pretty decent adaptation. Not great, but solid and well done. Modern audiences will be puzzled about the dominance of white males in the society of 1974 and the political correctness crowd will shudder to see minorities in a subservient role and characters smoking in almost every scene.

For those unfamiliar with BABBITT, it's about a small town businessman who has totally bought into the boosterism of the business world. George Babbitt is a Realtor and a valued member of the Zebra lodge. In sharp contrast his best friend from college, Paul, has not done as well materially and is content with his lot in life and his two main pursuits besides his job are playing his violin and trying to ignore the constant nagging of his shrewish wife.

One night at dinner the subject turns to what the various characters want out of life. Paul comments that George doesn't seem interested in anything he can't touch. The aftermath of a shooting that sets tongues wagging and a shady real estate deal cause George to reexamine his goals and his lot in life.

The novel is a classic, and after 74 years ripe for a remake. Bill Murray would be a tremendous George, and maybe Steve Martin as Paul.

It will take a writer/director with real guts not to update the characters' attitudes and values. Come on, Hollywood. Everything else is getting remade, including ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES. Give BABBITT a shot, too.