The Worst Film Ever

good back-story, and good acting

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

I guess "Rich Man, Poor Girl" is supposed to be akin to "You Can't Take it With You" in that the Thayers are kind of whacko.This is a pleasant film about a wealthy man, Bill Harrison (Robert Young), who falls in love with his secretary, Joan Thayer (Ruth Hussey). She is a member of the Great Working Class.When she brings him home to meet the family, Joan realizes how far apart they are in terms of class and upbringing. She thinks they should wait to marry. To move the date sooner, Harrison moves in with the family. But when he tries to help them, his generosity isn't always well received.Lana Turner plays Helen, Joan's sister. Here she's probably 17 or 18 and adorable. Helen is thrilled that there's going to be a rich man in the family and can't wait. Her cousin Henry (Lew Ayres) is constantly giving bombastic lectures about the curse of "the great working class" and boy, does he sound timely. His speeches could be written today. For instance, he complains that a poor man can walk into a hospital and be treated, a wealthy man can afford to be treated, but what about the middle class? He has to pay and it could easily wipe him out.This is certainly a lively film, with Turner a standout. It's light but fun.

Mild social commentary comedy drama is of more interest for its cast than the rather facile situations it presents. A bread and butter feature of the kind that all the studios churned out to fill a double bill and feature their stable of promising newcomers and reliable character actors this one is packed full of actors and actresses that went on to better things.Without a doubt the person who made the biggest splash following this is Lana Turner in her nascent phase here. She's sweet, still a brunette and full of the dewy youth and kittenish sexuality she exuded in the early phase of her career before changing into a harder article after The Postman Always Rings Twice, not fully in the spotlight but definitely holding the screen. The other person who would emerge with a major career is Robert Young but he'd have to wade through years as a second string leading man before hitting the top in TV. He's competent and charming as ever but his character isn't too clearly defined. Another fine performer-Ruth Hussey, still a few years away from The Philadelphia Story, isn't really given a very strong character either for someone who is supposed to be the lead but she is an appealing presence as always.For the supporting cast the always reliable Guy Kibbee is on hand as Ruth's kind father and the ill-fated Rita Johnson is saucy as Young's sister. The standout in support however and not in a good way is Lew Ayers jackass cousin Henry. Through no fault of the actor the character grates every second he's on the screen and it's only because of Ayer's natural charm that he is even mildly bearable.The picture is in no way special but still worth catching once for seeing the type of quality cast Metro was able to assemble for even the most ordinary script.

During the 1930s' and the Great Depression Hollywood seemed to need too exclaim some sort of social conscience. Many of these films were meant to show that the 'Rich' could fall in love with the poor and they were not much different then the rest of us. Particularly if the 'Poor Girl', was attractive, well dressed and spoken and her 'seams' were always straight.RUTH HUSSEY filled the 'Poor Girl' role in 'Rich Man, Poor Girl' (1938). ROBERT YOUNG, the boss and 'Rich Man' who falls in love, wants to marry her and bring her up to his speed. Which by the way IS her speed. The conflict, is that the POOR GIRLs' family is a bunch of boobs, save for the Mother who had married beneath her for love. The worst of the lot is a Cousin played by LEW AYRES. He feels the need to dispense 'lunatic left' philosophy whenever the opportunity presents itself in the guise of representing the great (and unspoken) middle class. Not holding onto a job during the Great Depression is supposed to be one of his endearing traits. Did not play well then and does not in the early 21st Century.While HUSSEY and YOUNGs' character are sympathetic and the Mother SARAH PADDEN rings true the rest are just stereotypes. A young LANA TURNER of course is always worth looking at, but LEW AYRES character is not. He had been placed in this type of role before, if not him, HENRY FONDA or JAMES STEWART. They infest themselves with a-lot of Politically Correct social conscience (nonsense), but NO real solutions for any problems. Fortunetly common sense and true love win out in the end and everybody lives 'happyly ever after'. Wish all problems of the World could be solved as easily as in this movie.

Maltins book indicates that this is an imitation of"You Cant Take It With You".Given that i was never keen on that film my worst fears were realised.This is a bit of a mess as it lurches uncomfortably from comedy to drama and back again.The highlight of this film is a dark haired Lana Turner giving some indication of the star she would become within the next couple of years.Given that she does not have the poise of a star yet makes her performance that much more appealing.When she is on the screen lights up,when she is not the film becomes tiresome particularly the wild overacting of Lew Ayres who was rather more suited to the sobre role of Dr Kildare that he was about to take on.As for the leads well the less said the better.