I'd Rather Be Rich
| I'd Rather Be Rich | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Jack Smight |
| Produced by | Ross Hunter |
| Written by |
Oscar Brodney Norman Krasna Leo Townsend |
| Starring |
Sandra Dee Robert Goulet Andy Williams Maurice Chevalier |
| Music by | Percy Faith |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
I'd Rather Be Rich is a 1964 romantic comedy film with musical aspects directed by Jack Smight, produced by Ross Hunter and starring Sandra Dee. The film focuses on a dying man who wishes to meet his granddaughter's fiancé, but he is unavailable, so the woman persuades another man to substitute for him. Then the grandfather recovers.
The film is a remake of the 1941 film It Started with Eve, with the genders reversed.
During the opening credits Robert Goulet and Andy Williams perform a duet "I'd Rather Be Rich".
We first meet Cynthia Dulaine (Sandra Dee) sitting at a nightclub table while Warren Palmer (Andy Williams) croons to her "It Had To Be You".
Suddenly, Cynthia is called away to her dying grandfather's bedside. Philip Dulaine (Maurice Chevalier) is the founder and CEO of Dulaine Enterprises and Cynthia is his closest surviving relative and heir. He tells her that his dying wish is for her to find the right man to marry. She's happy to tell him of the "kind, considerate and handsome" Warren Palmer whom Philip has never met and whom she has recently become engaged. Philip asks to meet Warren as soon as possible for the end seems close at hand.
Stuck in Boston because of airport difficulties, Warren is unable to be with Cynthia. Realizing that Philip will die a happier man if he can meet her fiancé, Cynthia approaches a stranger and asks if he would pose as Warren for an introduction to her grandfather. This man is Paul Benton (Robert Goulet), who has invented a heat-proof paint and desperately wants an audience with Philip Dulaine whose company has a contract with NASA. So, Benton agrees and the ruse is pulled off very successfully with Philip favorably impressed by the young man he believes to be Cynthia's fiancé. Especially after Philip makes the two kiss and sees Cynthia kick off her shoes just as her grandmother always did when Philip and she would kiss.
Philip tells the "couple" that Dulaine Enterprises is in danger of a hostile take-over and implores Cynthia to meet with the board to try to save the company. He insists against her protest that she take her "fiancé" along. The meeting at first proves disastrous for Cynthia until Benton announces that Cynthia will put her own money into the company. This satisfies the board, but Cynthia later tells Benton she is outraged with him for offering up her money without checking with her first. However, she does help him by sending him off on an interview with the best person at the company to help get his paint invention tested by NASA.
...
Wikipedia