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IMDbPro

Beg, Borrow or Steal

  • 19371937
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
248
YOUR RATING
John Beal, Frank Morgan, and Florence Rice in Beg, Borrow or Steal (1937)
  • Comedy
  • Romance
A con man must pass himself off as the owner of a château on the French Riviera when he is expected to host his estranged daughter's wedding.A con man must pass himself off as the owner of a château on the French Riviera when he is expected to host his estranged daughter's wedding.A con man must pass himself off as the owner of a château on the French Riviera when he is expected to host his estranged daughter's wedding.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
248
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Wilhelm Thiele
  • Writers
    • William C. White(short story)
    • Leonard Lee(screenplay)
    • Harry Ruskin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Frank Morgan
    • Florence Rice
    • John Beal
Top credits
  • Director
    • Wilhelm Thiele
  • Writers
    • William C. White(short story)
    • Leonard Lee(screenplay)
    • Harry Ruskin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Frank Morgan
    • Florence Rice
    • John Beal
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Janet Beecher, Harlan Briggs, Reginald Denny, Frank Morgan, and Cora Witherspoon in Beg, Borrow or Steal (1937)
    John Beal, Florence Rice, and Tom Rutherford in Beg, Borrow or Steal (1937)
    John Beal, Frank Morgan, and Florence Rice in Beg, Borrow or Steal (1937)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Frank Morgan
    Frank Morgan
    • Ingraham Stewardas Ingraham Steward
    Florence Rice
    Florence Rice
    • Joyce Stewardas Joyce Steward
    John Beal
    John Beal
    • Count Bill Cherauas Count Bill Cherau
    Janet Beecher
    Janet Beecher
    • Mrs. Agatha Stewardas Mrs. Agatha Steward
    Herman Bing
    Herman Bing
    • Von Giersdorff - aka Count Hermanas Von Giersdorff - aka Count Herman
    Erik Rhodes
    Erik Rhodes
    • Lefevreas Lefevre
    George Givot
    George Givot
    • Izmanovas Izmanov
    E.E. Clive
    E.E. Clive
    • Lord Nigel Braemeras Lord Nigel Braemer
    Tom Rutherford
    Tom Rutherford
    • Horace Milleras Horace Miller
    • (as Tom Rutherfurd)
    Cora Witherspoon
    Cora Witherspoon
    • Mrs. Elizabeth Milleras Mrs. Elizabeth Miller
    Reginald Denny
    Reginald Denny
    • Clifton Summittas Clifton Summitt
    Vladimir Sokoloff
    Vladimir Sokoloff
    • Saschaas Sascha
    Harlan Briggs
    Harlan Briggs
    • Mr. Virgil Milleras Mr. Virgil Miller
    Lowden Adams
    • Braemer's Servantas Braemer's Servant
    • (uncredited)
    Fortunio Bonanova
    Fortunio Bonanova
    • Ismanas Isman
    • (uncredited)
    Egon Brecher
    • Antique Shop Proprietoras Antique Shop Proprietor
    • (uncredited)
    Leonard Carey
    Leonard Carey
    • James - Lord Braemer's Butleras James - Lord Braemer's Butler
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph Crehan
    Joseph Crehan
    • Mr. Parsons - Murillo Customeras Mr. Parsons - Murillo Customer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Wilhelm Thiele
    • Writers
      • William C. White(short story)
      • Leonard Lee(screenplay)
      • Harry Ruskin(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      This film received its initial television broadcast in Los Angeles Monday 20 May 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11), followed by Chicago 5 June 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), by Memphis 29 August 1957 on WHBQ (Channel 13), by Seattle 30 August 1957 on KING (Channel 5), by Altoona PA 18 September 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10), by Spokane 8 October 1957 on KHQ (Channel 6), by Philadelphia 10 December 1957 on WFIL (Channel 6) and by Honolulu 26 December 1957 on KHVH (Channel 13); its earliest documented telecasts in San Francisco occurred 1 December 1959 on KGO (Channel 7) and in New York City 29 November 1962 on WCBS (Channel 2).
    • Goofs
      When Ingraham is playing checkers with his friends at the cafe; there are other customers sitting at the tables in the background. But on the following cut; the customers are now different and they keep changing with successive cuts.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Elizabeth Miller: Now, really, Agatha, you simply can't have the wedding here. Why, you won't have room for half the guests.

      Mrs. Agatha Steward: I've only asked eight people.

      Mrs. Elizabeth Miller: I've asked sixty three.

      Mrs. Agatha Steward: Sixty three?

      Mrs. Elizabeth Miller: Why, yes, of course. My country club set, Virgil's director of the bank. Why, I have twenty of my very close friends coming all the way up from New York.

    • Soundtracks
      Ach Du Lieber Augustine
      18th century German folksong

      Played by the orchestra when Count Heinrich enters

    User reviews12

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Amusing pre-WW2 comedy that has aged reasonably well.
    Con-artist Ingraham Steward (Frank Morgan) invites his estranged daughter to Europe to be married in his non-existent chateau on the French Rivera. Much to his chagrin, she accepts. As 'false identity' comedies go, this one is pretty good. Morgan is excellent as the father trying to make good on his offer and an early 'reveal' makes the whole farce a little less implausible. The funniest characters in the film are Ingraham's clique of 'international' conmen (posing as various Counts, Lords, etc) and the scene where they solemnly enter the chateau accompanied by 'culturally appropriate' music is hilarious. Other highlights are the scenes in which a real Lord (E.E. Clive) arrives at the chateau, only to be mistaken for another grifter and given instructions on how to behave in a Lordly fashion. As betrothed daughter Joyce, Florence Rice is fine and as soon as we meet her stiff, bland fiancée Horace (Tom Rutherford) we know that true love must await in France. The last-minute resolution to her romantic dilemma is deftly handled and the film ends exactly as expected - happily. Good fun from another era.
    helpful•3
    0
    • jamesrupert2014
    • Jun 14, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 3, 1937 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • A/B Luftbaroner
    • 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

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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