Rich Man's Folly (1931)

Apparently this picture had some importance at the time (1931), but today it plays as a 'B' programmer. George Bancroft was a big star at the time and this was a vehicle for him to bring in the audience and to accrue accolades for Paramount Pictures. It was also to showcase Frances Dee, whom they hoped would be their next big star.

Nutshell; Bancroft is a"Captain of Industry" and the owner of a big shipbuilding company and Dee is his devoted and neglected daughter. The light of his life was his son, who died at an early age. Both stars are very competent and much of the film is devoted to the conflict between father and daughter. As I stated it must have played better at the time because now it is a museum piece that is not as compelling or as interesting as Paramount had hoped. This played at Capitolfest, Rome, NY, 8/19.

****** 6/10 - Website no longer prints my star rating.