The House of Rothschild (1934)

A child falls into a narrow well.

Director:

Alfred L. Werker

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (screen play), George Hembert Westley (based on a play by),

Stars:

George Arliss, Boris Karloff, Loretta Young

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Arliss	...	Mayer Rothschild / Nathan Rothschild
Boris Karloff	...	Count Ledrantz
Loretta Young	...	Julie Rothschild
Robert Young	...	Capt. Fitzroy
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Duke of Wellington
Arthur Byron	...	Baring
Helen Westley	...	Gudula Rothschild
Reginald Owen	...	Herries
Florence Arliss	...	Hannah Rothschild
Alan Mowbray	...	Prince Metternich
Holmes Herbert	...	Rowerth
Paul Harvey	...	Solomon Rothschild
Ivan F. Simpson	...	Amschel Rothschild (as Ivan Simpson)
Noel Madison	...	Carl Rothschild
Murray Kinnell	...	James Rothschild

Storyline

The story of the rise of the Rothschild financial empire founded by Mayer Rothschild and continued by his five sons. From humble beginnings the business grows and helps to finance the war against Napoleon, but it's not always easy, especially because of the prejudices against Jews.

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Plot Keywords:

rothschild | jew | napoleon | brother | tax evasion | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rothschild

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 88 min (copyright length) 87 min (FMC Library Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

George Hembert Westley's play was unpublished, but copyrighted 11 May 1932.

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Connections

Referenced in Dad's Army: War Dance (1969)

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Soundtracks

"God Save the King!"
(1744) (uncredited)
Music attributed to Henry Carey
In the score for the reception at the end

User Reviews

The House of Rothschild was the most lavish film by Daryl F. Zanuck

In the person of Nathan Rothschild, overlord of the international banking house that shaped the destiny of Europe, George Arliss has found his most congenial role since Disraeli. The story provides a fasinating study of internatinal intrigue in the nineteenth century. It is presented straight-forwardly, without apology or sentimentality. Because of its lack of dramatic sequence, the picture lapses into passages that become monotonous. The injection of a romantic episode between Nathan's daughter and a Gentile British office, with its mixed-marriage problem during those years, is tritely handled. This film is rarely shown over the years in America and is controversal at times. On the whole, the picture has been skillfully cast, and there are good performances by George Arliss, Reginald Owen and Boris Karloff who gives an excellent performance as Baron Ledrantz.