The Millionaire (1931 film)
| The Millionaire | |
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Theatrical Poster
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| Directed by | John G. Adolfi |
| Produced by | John G. Adolfi |
| Written by |
Julien Josephson Booth Tarkington Maude T. Howell |
| Based on |
Idle Hands 1921 story in The Saturday Evening Post by Earl Derr Biggers |
| Starring |
George Arliss David Manners Evalyn Knapp Florence Arliss James Cagney |
| Music by | Alois Reiser |
| Cinematography | James Van Trees |
| Edited by | Owen Marks |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
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Release date
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Running time
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80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Millionaire is a 1931 all-talking pre-code comedy film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and starring George Arliss in the title role. The film is a remake of the 1922 film called The Ruling Passion, which also starred Arliss. The film was based on the short story "Idle Hands" by Earl Derr Biggers. In one of his earliest film roles, James Cagney had a brief but key appearance.
Wealthy car manufacturer James Alden (George Arliss) is forced to retire by his physician, Dr. Harvey (J. C. Nugent). However, idleness soon bores him. He takes the advice of brash life insurance salesman Schofield (James Cagney) and buys half interest in a gas station from Peterson (Noah Beery) without telling his wife Laura (real-life spouse Florence Arliss) or socialite daughter Barbara 'Babs' Alden (Evalyn Knapp). As he is known nationwide, he uses the alias Charles Miller.
He and new partner William 'Bill' Merrick (David Manners) quickly discover that they have been swindled. A new highway opens the next day and Peterson's new gas station takes nearly all their business away. Refusing to give up, James convinces Bill to borrow $1000 from his aunt to build a new gas station right across the street from Peterson's. Bill is an architect, so he does the design work. With James' business sense, they thrive, while Peterson languishes.
One day, Babs stops at the station for gas. Bill recognizes her (they met once at a dance when they were attending the same university) and strikes up a conversation. Soon, Babs is a frequent customer. James is secretly pleased, as he disapproved of the rich idler she had been dating, Carter Andrews (Bramwell Fletcher), but publicly he discourages his daughter from seeing someone not of their lofty social rank.
In the end, Peterson buys James and Bill out (at a substantial profit to them). Bill finally works up the courage to speak to Babs' father about marrying her and is stunned to learn his future in-law's identity.
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Wikipedia