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The Working Man

  • 19331933
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Bette Davis and George Arliss in The Working Man (1933)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
The vacationing head of a successful shoe company is placed as his rival's trustee, unbeknown to them.The vacationing head of a successful shoe company is placed as his rival's trustee, unbeknown to them.The vacationing head of a successful shoe company is placed as his rival's trustee, unbeknown to them.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John G. Adolfi
  • Writers
    • Charles Kenyon(screen play)
    • Maude T. Howell(screen play)
    • Edgar Franklin(based on a story by)
  • Stars
    • George Arliss
    • Bette Davis
    • Theodore Newton
Top credits
  • Director
    • John G. Adolfi
  • Writers
    • Charles Kenyon(screen play)
    • Maude T. Howell(screen play)
    • Edgar Franklin(based on a story by)
  • Stars
    • George Arliss
    • Bette Davis
    • Theodore Newton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

    Bette Davis and Theodore Newton in The Working Man (1933)
    Bette Davis, George Arliss, and Theodore Newton in The Working Man (1933)
    Bette Davis, George Arliss, and Theodore Newton in The Working Man (1933)
    George Arliss in The Working Man (1933)
    Bette Davis, George Arliss, Hardie Albright, James Bush, Ruthelma Stevens, and Pat Wing in The Working Man (1933)
    Bette Davis, George Arliss, and Gordon Westcott in The Working Man (1933)

    Top cast

    Edit
    George Arliss
    George Arliss
    • John Reevesas John Reeves…
    Bette Davis
    Bette Davis
    • Jenny Hartlandas Jenny Hartland…
    Theodore Newton
    Theodore Newton
    • Tommy Hartlandas Tommy Hartland
    Hardie Albright
    Hardie Albright
    • Benjamin Burnettas Benjamin Burnett
    Gordon Westcott
    Gordon Westcott
    • Fred Pettisonas Fred Pettison
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    • Henry Davisas Henry Davis
    Charles E. Evans
    • Mr. Haslittas Mr. Haslitt
    • (as Charles Evans)
    Frederick Burton
    Frederick Burton
    • Judge Larsonas Judge Larson
    Pat Wing
    Pat Wing
    • Reeves' Secretaryas Reeves' Secretary
    Edward Van Sloan
    Edward Van Sloan
    • Mr. Briggsas Mr. Briggs
    Claire McDowell
    Claire McDowell
    • Benjamin's Secretaryas Benjamin's Secretary
    Ruthelma Stevens
    Ruthelma Stevens
    • Mrs. Priceas Mrs. Price
    Harry C. Bradley
    Harry C. Bradley
    • Reeves Company Board Memberas Reeves Company Board Member
    • (uncredited)
    Don Brodie
    Don Brodie
    • Hartland Company Salesmanas Hartland Company Salesman
    • (uncredited)
    James Bush
    James Bush
    • Tommy's Bridge Opponentas Tommy's Bridge Opponent
    • (uncredited)
    Wallis Clark
    Wallis Clark
    • Mike - the Auditoras Mike - the Auditor
    • (uncredited)
    Clay Clement
    Clay Clement
    • Atkinson - Hartland Company Salesmanas Atkinson - Hartland Company Salesman
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Cooper
    • Jackson - Hartland's Butleras Jackson - Hartland's Butler
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John G. Adolfi
    • Writers
      • Charles Kenyon(screen play)
      • Maude T. Howell(screen play)
      • Edgar Franklin(based on a story by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Successful wealthy shoe manufacturer John Reeves takes a vacation, leaving his business in the hands of his nephew. While on vacation Reeves runs into his rival's heirs, who are living it up on their dead father's money. He doesn't tell them who he is and gets placed as their trustee. He uses the chance to reorganize their shoe company, becoming a rival to his own nephew. The ne'er-do-wells settle down and become involved in the business. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
    • hixploitation
    • timeframe 1930s
    • shoe
    • manufacturer
    • heir
    • 37 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • See the "Old Sport" give them all pointers on how to handle sin, gin and jazz as he outsmarts the younger generation! (Print Ad- Gettysburg Times, ((Gettysburg, Penna.)) 10 June 1933)
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shot in only 18 days.
    • Goofs
      When Reeves is going over the books with Jenny and Tommy, a column of figures is shown, depicting the firm's losses, and the total shown is $208,000. The actual sum should be $200,000.
    • Connections
      Remade as Everybody's Old Man (1936)
    • Soundtracks
      Young and Healthy
      (1933) (uncredited)

      Music by Harry Warren

      Played during the opening credits and at the end

      Also played during the Hartland party

    User reviews20

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    The Old Man and the Shoe
    Interesting story of a sly old fox (George Arliss), owner of the Reeves Shoe Company, who seems like he'd rather be fishing with his pal in Maine than running the business, so heads off for a fishing holiday, leaving his conceited nephew in charge of biz. While out fishing, he accidentally meets up with the son and daughter of Hartland, his recently deceased one-time friend and biggest rival in the shoe business. Giving them a fake name, the two youths have no idea he is rival Reeves, but they are really more interested in contacting bootleggers, throwing drunken parties, and running through their inheritance anyway. After heading back home with these two to get an "inside look" at the workings of their shoe factory and make an offer to buy the company, Reeves sees that the company is being run into the ground and decides he would rather help these Hartlands out instead - see, he was once in love with their mother, not to mention his swollen-headed nephew thinks he's too old to run a business anymore - he'll show the young whippersnapper! So he gets the Hartland's to make him their new trustee/guardian (and they do it 'cause they think he is just a simple "old fisherman" who will give them all the money they want to run wild with), then takes a firm hold of the running of the company and the young Hartlands!

    Really good film with excellent script and performances all around. George Arliss is an old charmer, really endearing in this film - he makes you really want to root for him. Bette Davis looks real cute in this, and does a great job, as always, in her part. The story is lots of fun to watch, and left me with a smile at the end - credit for this film really belongs to George Arliss who dominates the film and makes it a good one.
    helpful•18
    0
    • movingpicturegal
    • May 12, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 20, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Adopted Father
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $193,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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