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If I Had a Million

  • 19321932
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
If I Had a Million (1932)
ComedyDrama
A dying tycoon gives million-dollar windfalls to eight people picked from the city directory.A dying tycoon gives million-dollar windfalls to eight people picked from the city directory.A dying tycoon gives million-dollar windfalls to eight people picked from the city directory.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • James Cruze(segment Death Cell)
    • H. Bruce Humberstone(segment The Forger)
    • Ernst Lubitsch(segment The Clerk)
  • Writers
    • Robert Hardy Andrews(based on a story by)
    • Claude Binyon
    • Whitney Bolton
  • Stars
    • Gary Cooper
    • Charles Laughton
    • W.C. Fields
  • Directors
    • James Cruze(segment Death Cell)
    • H. Bruce Humberstone(segment The Forger)
    • Ernst Lubitsch(segment The Clerk)
  • Writers
    • Robert Hardy Andrews(based on a story by)
    • Claude Binyon
    • Whitney Bolton
  • Stars
    • Gary Cooper
    • Charles Laughton
    • W.C. Fields
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 44User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos75

    Gary Cooper, Joyce Compton, Roscoe Karns, and Jack Oakie in If I Had a Million (1932)
    Grant Mitchell and Gene Raymond in If I Had a Million (1932)
    Richard Bennett, Fred Santley, and John St. Polis in If I Had a Million (1932)
    Blanche Friderici, Richard Bennett, Lillian Harmer, and May Robson in If I Had a Million (1932)
    Blanche Friderici and May Robson in If I Had a Million (1932)
    Effie Ellsler in If I Had a Million (1932)
    Edith Yorke in If I Had a Million (1932)
    Effie Ellsler and May Robson in If I Had a Million (1932)
    May Robson in If I Had a Million (1932)
    Blanche Friderici in If I Had a Million (1932)
    Blanche Friderici, Dewey Robinson, and May Robson in If I Had a Million (1932)
    If I Had a Million (1932)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gary Cooper
    Gary Cooper
    • Steve Gallagher
    Charles Laughton
    Charles Laughton
    • Phineas V. Lambert
    W.C. Fields
    W.C. Fields
    • Rollo La Rue
    George Raft
    George Raft
    • Eddie Jackson
    Jack Oakie
    Jack Oakie
    • Private Mulligan
    Richard Bennett
    Richard Bennett
    • John Glidden
    Charles Ruggles
    Charles Ruggles
    • Henry Peabody
    • (as Charlie Ruggles)
    Alison Skipworth
    Alison Skipworth
    • Emily La Rue
    Mary Boland
    Mary Boland
    • Mrs. Peabody
    Roscoe Karns
    Roscoe Karns
    • Private O'Brien
    May Robson
    May Robson
    • Mrs. Mary Walker
    Hooper Atchley
    Hooper Atchley
    • Hotel Desk Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Irving Bacon
    Irving Bacon
    • China Shop Salesman
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Baker
    Eddie Baker
    • Second Desk Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Reginald Barlow
    Reginald Barlow
    • Otto K. Bullwinkle
    • (uncredited)
    Ada Beecher
    • Idylwood Resident
    • (uncredited)
    Vangie Beilby
    • Idylwood Resident
    • (uncredited)
    Clara T. Bracy
    Clara T. Bracy
    • Idylwood Resident
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • James Cruze(segment Death Cell) (uncredited)
      • H. Bruce Humberstone(segment The Forger) (uncredited)
      • Ernst Lubitsch(segment The Clerk) (uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Robert Hardy Andrews(based on a story by)
      • Claude Binyon
      • Whitney Bolton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Three sequences intended for the movie were not in the final print: "The Pheeneys" with Cary Grant, Richard Arlen and Miriam Hopkins, "The Man Who Drops Dead" by Oliver H.P. Garrett, directed by Thornton Freeland with Tallulah Bankhead, and Clive Brook, and "The Randall Marshalls" with Sylvia Sidney, Carole Lombard, Randolph Scott and Fredric March, and directed by Lothar Mendes. It is not known if the first two segments were filmed and dropped or simply not filmed. The last sequence was partially filmed, but dropped because March would not participate in retakes without salary.
    • Goofs
      The La Rues purchase 9 vehicles from the used car lot and drive out in one car followed by 8 other vehicles. At the end of the day when they are down to one car, they only pay off 6 drivers.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Mary Walker: There ain't any jail of steel or stone that can hold a body prisoner as tight as one built of old age... and lack of money.

    • Alternate versions
      Some local censors deleted objectionable scenes in the "Violet" and "Death Cell" segments. In "Violet," when she throws off the covers and removes her stockings, and in "Death Cell," the preparation for execution and the opening of the door to the execution chamber.
    • Connections
      Featured in Woman of Tokyo (1933)
    • Soundtracks
      (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You
      (1931) (uncredited)

      Written by Spo-De-Odee

      Sung by an unidentified male voice on a record

    User reviews44

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    IF I HAD A MILLION (Various, 1932) ***
    This is surely among Hollywood's first and most celebrated all-star compendiums, which also involved a plethora of equally notable writers and directors, but is best-remembered now for Ernst Lubitsch's contribution (it's actually the briefest episode of the lot!) and the hilarious W.C. Fields segment. The narrative revolves around wealthy but eccentric dying industrialist Richard Bennett (who's wonderful here, though his only other notable role was a brief dramatic turn in Orson Welles' THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS [1942]) who, rather than leave his fortune to his "vulture" relatives and collaborators, decides to donate it indiscriminately by randomly choosing the names of eight strangers from the telephone book! Though it's stylishly handled all the way through, the episodes alternate jarringly between comedy, irony, melodrama and sentimentality – making the whole somewhat patchy.

    Besides, a few of them are insubstantial (the Lubitsch/Charles Laughton and Stephen Roberts/Wynne Gibson segments, the latter as a prostitute who celebrates her freedom by sleeping in luxury and alone – making no secret of the girl's profession, who's later seen in her underwear and even removing her stockings, was only possible due to the relaxed censorship of the Pre-Code era) as well as repetitive (the immediate reaction of both Laughton and Charlie Ruggles, in a Norman Z. McLeod-directed episode where the star is typically flanked by the overbearing Mary Boland and which even incorporates a surreal nightmare sequence, on receiving the inheritance is to avenge themselves on their respective bosses). For that matter, Fields' segment (also helmed by McLeod) deals likewise with the sweet taste of revenge – as he and frequent sparring partner Alison Skipworth buy a number of cars simultaneously, after their brand-new vehicle has been destroyed by road-hogs, and spend the rest of the day giving irresponsible drivers they meet along the way a dose of their own medicine – but it's easily the highlight of the film.

    The other episodes include: a prisoner on Death Row, Gene Raymond (directed by James Cruze), whose fortune arrives too late to change his fate; in a somewhat similar situation, the H. Bruce Humberstone-helmed segment has George Raft as a forger who, wanted by the Police, is understandably not given credit by any of his shady associates, even when he presents them with the $1 million figure – it does gain him lodging at a flop-house except that the owner, recognizing the forger from his photo in the papers, instantly turns Raft over to the proper authorities and obliviously uses the cheque to light his cigar! Again, a variation on this misuse of the money is the basis of the Gary Cooper episode (directed by William A. Seiter): he's one of three marines thrown in the stockade for unruly behavior – receiving Bennett's cheque on an April Fool's Day, he believes it all to be a mere prank, and uses it to buy himself and his pals a meal at a hamburger stand; after they all go out with the waitress there to a carnival and end up in another brawl, they're astonished the next day to see the girl and her employer living it up!

    The concluding May Robson/Stephen Roberts segment – residing at a home for old ladies run by a female disciplinarian, she eventually utilizes the money to buy off the property and turn it into a recreation center (to which, ultimately, Bennett himself apparently retires!) – is among the longer episodes but also, obviously, the most sentimental. Norman Taurog, then, presumably directed the millionaire's scenes in his home and offices i.e. whenever he's not interacting with the other stars; it's unclear, however, what exactly constitutes Mendes' uncredited contribution. Unfortunately, the copy I acquired of this was rather fuzzy (after having longed for years to watch it); for what it's worth, the film is only currently available on R2 DVD, as part of a W.C. Fields collection: I didn't spring for the 10-Disc set for the simple reason that I already owned many of the titles included therein – though I'm still missing a few at this point
    helpful•6
    1
    • Bunuel1976
    • Dec 28, 2008

    FAQ1

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 22, 1933 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • China Shop
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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