I'd Rather Be Rich
Encyclopedia
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 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.
) visits a fancy nightclub, where she is charmed by performer Warren Palmer (Andy Williams
), who proposes to her in front of the entire audience. Shortly after, she is informed that her wealthy grandfater Philip Dulaine (Maurice Chevalier
) is dying. Even though the media are on top of the case, Cynthia boards the next plane in Boston to visit him. Philip admits that he regrets that she has never found the right man, but she insists that "kind, considerate and handsome" Warren is the one who she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Philip fears that Warren loves her only because of her money and fame, but Cynthia tells him that he is just as rich.
Stuck because of airport difficulties, Warren is unable to follow Cynthia. Realizing that her grandfather will not die a happy man if he does not meet Warren, Cynthia takes the first man she sees and makes him pose as Warren. This man happens to be Paul Benton (Robert Goulet
), who impresses Philip without even trying. Problems seem to have been solved quickly, until Philip unexpectedly regains his health. Sylvia quickly follows Paul to the airport to prevent him from leaving for Cleveland by offering him to help his business through strong connections.
Philip tells the 'couple' that business is in danger. A meeting shortly after proves disastrous for Cynthia: a $5 million loan will be withdrawn by the bank due to Philip's heart attack. Paul tries to help out by announcing that Cynthia will put in her own money. Cynthia is outraged and cuts their arrangement short. Paul later comes crawling back in front of Philip, aware that the title of the soon to be grandson-in-law of Dulaine will give him a great deal of power. Cynthia later yells at him for his action, and Philip overhears Paul mentioning that he will pose as Warren Palmer until his own formula will be authorized a test within the Dulaine company. Cynthia, though, announces that the real Warren Palmer will arrive soon, meaning that Paul's presence is not required any longer.
Deciding to give his granddaughter a hard time over lying to him, Philip pretends to still be ill in order to get away with unrealizable requests. Cynthia is ordered to bring back 'Warren Palmer' (Paul Benton), and the real Warren Palmer must pose as Paul Benton, while being given a hard time by Philip's servants. Even though they still think that Philip is under the understanding that she is engaged to 'Warren Palmer' (Paul Benton), Cynthia and Warren arrange a romantic getaway in the forest. Soon, they find that their vacation has been sabotaged, which sparks them to leave early. Back in town, Cynthia reluctantly takes 'Warren Palmer' (Paul Benton) to a formal ball, and is surprised how much she enjoys his company. Returning home, they find Warren in a jealous rage, eventually starting a fight with Paul.
Cynthia is ashamed by the fight and takes refuge with her grandfather, who makes her realize that she is in love with Paul. The next morning she kisses both Paul and Warren to find some answers on her true feelings. Paul catches the couple and announces his plans on leaving for good. Philip tries to prevent this by revealing to Cynthia that he knew the entire truth all along. Together, they make a plan to stop Paul from boarding a plane by cancelling his reservation. Warren, meanwhile, has resorted himself to the airport as well, and tells Paul that Cynthia broke off their engagement. Paul immediately returns to the Dulaine mansion, where he grows convinced by Cynthia that he is the person she is in love with.
1964 in film
The year 1964 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 29 - The film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is released....
romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily"...
with musical
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
aspects directed by Jack Smight
Jack Smight
Jack Smight was an American theatre and film director.Smight was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and went to school with future actor Peter Graves...
, produced by Ross Hunter
Ross Hunter
Ross Hunter was a Hollywood film producer.-Biography:Hunter was born in Cleveland, Ohio as Martin Fuss. After serving in Army intelligence during World War II, he signed a movie contract with Columbia Pictures and acted in a number of B-movie musicals...
and starring Sandra Dee
Sandra Dee
Sandra Dee was an American actress. Dee began her career as a model and progressed to film. Best known for her portrayal of ingenues, Dee won a Golden Globe Award in 1959 as one of the year's most promising newcomers, and over several years her films were popular...
. The film focuses on 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
1941 in film
The year 1941 in film involved some significant events.-Events:Citizen Kane, consistently rated as one of the greatest films of all time, was released in 1941.-Top grossing films :-Academy Awards:...
film It Started with Eve
It Started with Eve
It Started with Eve is a 1941 musical romantic comedy film. A man's dying father wants to meet his new fiancée, but she is unavailable, so he substitutes a hat-check girl. Then the father unexpectedly recovers.Charles Previn and Hans J...
, with the genders reversed.
Plot
Young heiress Cynthia Dulaine (Sandra DeeSandra Dee
Sandra Dee was an American actress. Dee began her career as a model and progressed to film. Best known for her portrayal of ingenues, Dee won a Golden Globe Award in 1959 as one of the year's most promising newcomers, and over several years her films were popular...
) visits a fancy nightclub, where she is charmed by performer Warren Palmer (Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
), who proposes to her in front of the entire audience. Shortly after, she is informed that her wealthy grandfater Philip Dulaine (Maurice Chevalier
Maurice Chevalier
Maurice Auguste Chevalier was a French actor, singer, entertainer and a noted Sprechgesang performer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including Louise, Mimi, Valentine, and Thank Heaven for Little Girls and for his films including The Love Parade and The Big Pond...
) is dying. Even though the media are on top of the case, Cynthia boards the next plane in Boston to visit him. Philip admits that he regrets that she has never found the right man, but she insists that "kind, considerate and handsome" Warren is the one who she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Philip fears that Warren loves her only because of her money and fame, but Cynthia tells him that he is just as rich.
Stuck because of airport difficulties, Warren is unable to follow Cynthia. Realizing that her grandfather will not die a happy man if he does not meet Warren, Cynthia takes the first man she sees and makes him pose as Warren. This man happens to be Paul Benton (Robert Goulet
Robert Goulet
Robert Gerard Goulet was a Canadian American entertainer as a singer and actor. He played the role of Lancelot in the Broadway musical Camelot of 1960.-Early life:...
), who impresses Philip without even trying. Problems seem to have been solved quickly, until Philip unexpectedly regains his health. Sylvia quickly follows Paul to the airport to prevent him from leaving for Cleveland by offering him to help his business through strong connections.
Philip tells the 'couple' that business is in danger. A meeting shortly after proves disastrous for Cynthia: a $5 million loan will be withdrawn by the bank due to Philip's heart attack. Paul tries to help out by announcing that Cynthia will put in her own money. Cynthia is outraged and cuts their arrangement short. Paul later comes crawling back in front of Philip, aware that the title of the soon to be grandson-in-law of Dulaine will give him a great deal of power. Cynthia later yells at him for his action, and Philip overhears Paul mentioning that he will pose as Warren Palmer until his own formula will be authorized a test within the Dulaine company. Cynthia, though, announces that the real Warren Palmer will arrive soon, meaning that Paul's presence is not required any longer.
Deciding to give his granddaughter a hard time over lying to him, Philip pretends to still be ill in order to get away with unrealizable requests. Cynthia is ordered to bring back 'Warren Palmer' (Paul Benton), and the real Warren Palmer must pose as Paul Benton, while being given a hard time by Philip's servants. Even though they still think that Philip is under the understanding that she is engaged to 'Warren Palmer' (Paul Benton), Cynthia and Warren arrange a romantic getaway in the forest. Soon, they find that their vacation has been sabotaged, which sparks them to leave early. Back in town, Cynthia reluctantly takes 'Warren Palmer' (Paul Benton) to a formal ball, and is surprised how much she enjoys his company. Returning home, they find Warren in a jealous rage, eventually starting a fight with Paul.
Cynthia is ashamed by the fight and takes refuge with her grandfather, who makes her realize that she is in love with Paul. The next morning she kisses both Paul and Warren to find some answers on her true feelings. Paul catches the couple and announces his plans on leaving for good. Philip tries to prevent this by revealing to Cynthia that he knew the entire truth all along. Together, they make a plan to stop Paul from boarding a plane by cancelling his reservation. Warren, meanwhile, has resorted himself to the airport as well, and tells Paul that Cynthia broke off their engagement. Paul immediately returns to the Dulaine mansion, where he grows convinced by Cynthia that he is the person she is in love with.
Cast
- Sandra DeeSandra DeeSandra Dee was an American actress. Dee began her career as a model and progressed to film. Best known for her portrayal of ingenues, Dee won a Golden Globe Award in 1959 as one of the year's most promising newcomers, and over several years her films were popular...
as Cynthia Dulaine - Robert GouletRobert GouletRobert Gerard Goulet was a Canadian American entertainer as a singer and actor. He played the role of Lancelot in the Broadway musical Camelot of 1960.-Early life:...
as Paul Benton - Andy WilliamsAndy WilliamsHoward Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
as Warren Palmer - Maurice ChevalierMaurice ChevalierMaurice Auguste Chevalier was a French actor, singer, entertainer and a noted Sprechgesang performer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including Louise, Mimi, Valentine, and Thank Heaven for Little Girls and for his films including The Love Parade and The Big Pond...
as Philip Dulaine - Gene RaymondGene RaymondGene Raymond was an American film, television, and stage actor of the 1930s and 1940s. In addition to acting, Raymond was also a composer, writer, director, producer, and decorated military pilot.-Stage and movie career:...
as Martin Wood - Charles RugglesCharles RugglesCharles Sherman “Charlie” Ruggles was a comic American actor. In a career spanning six decades, Ruggles appeared in close to 100 feature films. He was also the brother of director, producer, and silent actor Wesley Ruggles .-Background:Charlie Ruggles was born in Los Angeles, California in 1886...
as Dr. Charles Crandall - Hermione GingoldHermione GingoldHermione Gingold was an English actress known for her sharp-tongued, eccentric persona, an image enhanced by her sharp nose and chin, as well as her deepening voice, a result of vocal nodes which her mother reportedly encouraged her not to remove. She starred on stage, on radio, in films, on...
as Miss Grimshaw - Allen JenkinsAllen JenkinsAllen Jenkins was an American character actor of stage, screen and television.-Early life:He was born David Allen Curtis Jenkins in Staten Island, New York on April 9, 1900.-Career:...
as Fred - Laurie MainLaurie MainLaurence "Laurie" Main is an English former actor. Although Main appeared in many films and television series since the 1950s, he is perhaps best known for hosting and narrating the children's series Welcome to Pooh Corner, which aired on The Disney Channel during the 1980s.His television guest...
as Harrison - Dort Clark as Albert
- Hayden RorkeHayden RorkeWilliam Henry Rorke was an American actor best known for playing Col. Dr. Alfred E. Bellows on the hit 1960s American sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Career:...
as MacDougall