Laugh and Get Rich

The no-nonsense wife of a whimsical, unemployed inventor knows it's impossible to LAUGH AND GET RICH.

This mildly amusing little movie is blessed with the talents of two of Hollywood's finest character actors - Miss Edna May Oliver & Mr. Hugh Herbert. As usual , they both give their full effort, wringing all they can out of their lines. Alas, the script gives them scant support, indecisive as to whether it wants to be a domestic comedy or a drama. Much of the time is spent dealing with the characters' financial woes and it is difficult to get many laughs from penury.

But the two leads are worth watching, irregardless, if only for their one wonderful scene, in which an inebriated Oliver & compliant Herbert joyously compel an entire party of stuffy society types to unbend and romp about the room to the music of 'Pop! Goes The Weasel.'

Kewpie doll-cute Dorothy Lee (doubtless on parole from Wheeler & Woolsey) plays their daughter, a young lady replete with all the requisite romantic difficulties. Oliver's boarding house tenants include elderly, deaf Charles Sellon & Italian immigrant George Davis, an artist handicapped by his inability to paint anything but cows.

Movie mavens will recognize teenager Rochelle Hudson at the country club dance and Ivan Lebedeff as the oily Count at the party, both uncredited.

Two of hollywood's comedy pro's Hugh Herbert and Edna Oliver, are a married couple, Sarah and Joe Austin. They run a boarding house, and try to keep a watch over their daughter Alice. she's dating Larry the inventor, played by Russell Gleason. the folks don't approve of Larry, who tinkers with his inventions rather than working. hmmm.. this RKO film has so many similarities to a little film Columbia will make in 1938, called You Can't Take it With You. This 1931 version is a little slower, a little stiffer, more old-timey, where the later version is much faster, upbeat, and won two oscars. anyway. Mrs. Austin has money, so people are always trying to get her husband Joe to invest in things. kind of a fun (vaudeville) bit where they try to sell Joe shares in an oil well project. and when money starts disappearing around the boarding house, they bring in the cops, and the farce begins. and another bit where they keep calling Joe Austin "Mister Cranston", because they know the wife has all the money. the family sticks together in the ups and downs, and all's well that ends well! it's a fun romp, right in the heart of the depression. both Herbert and Oliver look like they will be stuffy, upright cardboard characters in most of their films, but they were both fun, energetic, and there's a good energy going on in this one. Gleason died quite young at 38, in a fall from a new york hotel room, while serving in the military. Directed by Greg LaCava, who made so many HUGE films... My Man Godfrey, Stage Door, and TWO W.C. Fields films. LaCava also died pretty young, at 59,

This movie has nothing at all to do with its title. It is actually a few separate stories strung together. Not deftly, but effectively.

There is one very poignant scene between Edna May Oliver and Hugh Hurbert. He has confessed to stealing $250 from her to invest in an oil scheme. She expresses her deep anger and disappointment in a manner that a loving wife would. There is no comedy in that scene

I was very touched by the depth of the acting by both of them.

I have not got much to say about this movie as a whole, apart from the fact that it is an okay comedy featuring some great actors such as Edna Mae Oliver, Hugh Herbert, Dorothy Lee and of course Maude Fealy... who is the main reason why i am writing this piece in the first place.

This was Maude Fealy's first talkie movie at the age of 48, it is possibly the biggest role she got in her later movie career and most dialogue recieved. She's seen playing the role of Miss Teasdale, who only appears in a couple of short scenes (I don't think it is made clear on who this character is), but we do get a glimpse of what Maude Fealy really sounded like. Treating us to a minute long scene of her talking.

For lovers of Ms. Oliver and Mr. Herbert (and who isn't?), a must-see. Herbert in this film is not a caricature (as in, e.g., Golddiggers of 1935 -- where he is great) but afully realized and sympathetic human being. Ms/ Oliver is great as usual. Vincentini and his paintings are a wonderful touch! Wonderful Depression=era comedy/drama directed by the talented Gregory LaCava of My Man Godfrey fame.