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IMDbPro

Prosperity

  • 19321932
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
270
YOUR RATING
Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Prosperity (1932)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
In 1925, John becomes President of the prosperous Warren Bank when Maggie retires. Six years later, John, Helen and the two children are happy in their home, but the two mother-in-laws are s... Read allIn 1925, John becomes President of the prosperous Warren Bank when Maggie retires. Six years later, John, Helen and the two children are happy in their home, but the two mother-in-laws are still bickering. When Lizzy inadvertently starts a run on the bank, it closes when Maggie l... Read allIn 1925, John becomes President of the prosperous Warren Bank when Maggie retires. Six years later, John, Helen and the two children are happy in their home, but the two mother-in-laws are still bickering. When Lizzy inadvertently starts a run on the bank, it closes when Maggie learns that John has done what she had told him never to do - used the bank bonds for a get... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
270
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Sam Wood(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Sylvia Thalberg(story)
    • Frank Butler(story)
    • Zelda Sears(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Marie Dressler
    • Polly Moran
    • Anita Page
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sam Wood(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Sylvia Thalberg(story)
    • Frank Butler(story)
    • Zelda Sears(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Marie Dressler
    • Polly Moran
    • Anita Page
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos8

    Norman Foster, Anita Page, Jerry Tucker, and Jackie Lyn Dufton in Prosperity (1932)
    Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Prosperity (1932)
    Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Prosperity (1932)
    Marie Dressler, Polly Moran, Anita Page, and Sam Wood in Prosperity (1932)
    Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Prosperity (1932)
    Marie Dressler, Polly Moran, and Anita Page in Prosperity (1932)
    Marie Dressler and Polly Moran in Prosperity (1932)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marie Dressler
    Marie Dressler
    • Maggie Warrenas Maggie Warren
    Polly Moran
    Polly Moran
    • Lizzie Praskinsas Lizzie Praskins
    Anita Page
    Anita Page
    • Helen Praskins Warrenas Helen Praskins Warren
    Norman Foster
    Norman Foster
    • John Warrenas John Warren
    John Miljan
    John Miljan
    • Hollandas Holland
    Jackie Lyn Dufton
    • Cissy Warrenas Cissy Warren
    • (as Jacquie Lyn)
    Jerry Tucker
    Jerry Tucker
    • Buster Warrenas Buster Warren
    Charles Giblyn
    • Mayoras Mayor
    Frank Darien
    Frank Darien
    • Erza Higginsas Erza Higgins
    Henry Armetta
    Henry Armetta
    • Henry, a Barberas Henry, a Barber
    John Roche
    John Roche
    • Knapp, Holland's Cohortas Knapp, Holland's Cohort
    Jack Baxley
    • Man Trading Pot Roastas Man Trading Pot Roast
    • (uncredited)
    Harry C. Bradley
    Harry C. Bradley
    • Man Whose Pants Need Mendingas Man Whose Pants Need Mending
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Brophy
    Edward Brophy
    • Ice Cream Salesmanas Ice Cream Salesman
    • (uncredited)
    James Bush
    James Bush
    • Bank Telleras Bank Teller
    • (uncredited)
    Claire Du Brey
    Claire Du Brey
    • Bank Depositor Spreading Rumoras Bank Depositor Spreading Rumor
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Hall
    Henry Hall
    • Bill, the Man Needing Tiresas Bill, the Man Needing Tires
    • (uncredited)
    Edward LeSaint
    Edward LeSaint
    • Train Conductoras Train Conductor
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Sam Wood(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Sylvia Thalberg(story)
      • Frank Butler(story)
      • Zelda Sears(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of a number of early 1930s films such as American Madness (1932) and Manhattan Tower (1932) made on the subject of business corruption and banking practices in the wake of the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression. When reviewing the screenplays of these films prior to production, the censors demanded that such films must inculcate "confidence in banking institutions" and "big business" in the average American. The studios begrudgingly obliged.
    • Goofs
      When John goes to leave Lizzie's house, Maggie stops him at the front door. John is between Maggie and the door. But in the next shot Maggie is between the door and John - their positions have switched.
    • Quotes

      Lizzie Praskins: One more word from you and I'll forget I'm a lady.

      [lifts plate to throw at Maggie]

      Maggie Warren: Why not? Everybody else has.

    • Soundtracks
      Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)
      from "Lohengrin"

      Written by Richard Wagner (1850)

      Played by pianist and violinist at the wedding

    User reviews10

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The third and final of the Dressler/Moran comedies...
    ... with the first two being "Reducing" and "Politics".

    As in the others, Polly Moran and Marie Dressler play lifelong friends who fight like cats and dogs. Dressler is the more anchored and likeable one. Moran plays somebody you'd like to tie an anchor to and throw in the ocean. Her character is that obnoxious and snobby. But the contrast works. MGM didn't get comedy right very often in the 1930s - their specialty was drama - so this teaming was one of their rare hits in the comedy genre.

    Dressler plays the president of a small town bank. Moran is one of her larger depositors, always thinking this entitles her to complain about this or that regarding the bank. The film opens on the year 1925 "when money talked and was on speaking terms with everybody" as Dressler's son John (Norman Foster) and Moran's daughter Helen (Anita Page) are about to get married. Dressler is going to retire and let John run the bank. And then comes the Great Depression with Moran withdrawing all of her money on a whim, causing a "run" on the bank, and ultimately causes the bank to close. These things happened in the Depression with people left without their life savings because there was no FDIC. Your average bank had zero protection for your savings. Without getting into the details of the plot, let's just say complications ensue.

    I know that this doesn't sound like a comedy at all, but the secret to the Dressler/Moran comedies is that there is usually something very serious going on in the broader plot punctuated with lots of gags and broad physical comedy by the two leading ladies.

    The odd thing about this film? The year before, over at Warner Brothers, Page and Foster played newlyweds in "Under Eighteen". There are lots of similarities - the two get married at the beginning of the film during the roaring twenties, then the Depression hits, then their marriage troubles rise with their monetary ones. And they weren't even the main characters. Did that have anything to do with them being reteamed here? Could be.
    helpful•1
    0
    • AlsExGal
    • Dec 12, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 18, 1932 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Prosperidad
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $628,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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