Prospérité

In 1925, childhood friends Marie Dressler (as Maggie Warren) and Polly Moran (as Lizzie Praskins) oversee the wedding of their children, Anita Page (as Helen) and Norman Foster (as John). Before the celebration, Ms. Dressler turns the reigns of her small town bank over to her son, Mr. Foster. Six years later, the Great Depression brings many bank closures, and financial insecurity. Banker Foster is able to survive, due to mother Dressler's wise planning. But, Ms. Moran is worried about her fortune, and loudly demands a complete withdrawal. Other "Warren Bank" customers hear Moran's rant, and start questioning their own solvency. Soon, the family is in financial crisis.

Dressler's huge critical and financial film hit "Emma" had been released early in the year, and MGM had to have wanted to get a new Dressler film out as soon as possible. Dressler's 1931 hits, "Reducing" and "Politics" were still making a lot of money; and, Dressler had become 1932's US #1 Box Office Star, according to the industry standard list compiled by Quigley Publications. "Prosperity" certainly celebrated Dressler's status, but the production appears uncharacteristically sloppy, and rushed. The cast does well, considering. Some more care in direction and editing, and some retakes, would have helped… apparently, they needed it in theaters for the holidays.

**** Prosperity (11/12/32) Sam Wood ~ Marie Dressler, Polly Moran, Anita Page, Norman Foster

Maggie Warren (Marie Dressler) is the hard-nosed matriarch who runs the family bank. His son John is marrying Helen Praskins. Helen's mother Lizzie Praskins (Polly Moran) is one of the bank's biggest depositor. Maggie appoints John as the new head of the bank. The two mothers fight over the wedding. Some years later, various problems arise and there is a run on the bank.

I like the part where Maggie and Lizzie fight over the wedding. If only they could incorporate the bank run with the wedding and have the whole thing take place before the vows. Dressler has a great presence. The two older ladies have good comedic chemistry. This is their movie.

Let's face it. ANY movie that features Marie Dressler is going to be a hit!! Dressler makes the movie fun, emotional, and spirit lifting!!

Dressler gets teamed up again with her side kick Polly Moran. There are many scenes where Moran's acting and expressions remind me of some of the best comedy scenes played by Bette Midler. Moran has the gift of gag reactions and makes a perfect companion for Dressler. Dressler can be "over the top" at times but Moran is SO "over the top", she makes Dressler look grounded. It all works out evenly in a perfect balance when these two get together.

Norman Foster is her son. He is weak and selfish and it makes it tough on Dressler when she turns the family bank over to his care. He means well but he just keeps messing things up. If he would only listen to his mother!!

The film deals with the Great Depression, inspiring supportive relationships, and learning when to speak and learning when to bite your tongue.

With the laughs come tears and Dressler is the best when it comes to playing the tough scenes. She has a heart of gold through out. If you liked her in "Emma", you will love her in "Prosperity".

Take 90 minutes out of your day and see this Classy Classic. You won't regret it.

Prosperity is a comedy/drama that was very timely in 1932. It concerns bank closures. In the last of the Films that Dressler starred in with Polly Moran, she plays a bank president who saves her town. Lots of plots twists but basically a star vehicle for a great star--Marie Dressler. She can ham and mug her way thru anything and always get a laugh, but when Dressler played dramatic scenes, no one could touch her. No art. Nothing arch. Just her her old, worn, wonderful face to put across the feeling. That Marie Dressler is largely forgotten now except for her rather gauche comedy style (a style that Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett borrowed from liberally) is a pity. In Prosperity as well and Min and Bill, Anna Christie, Tugboat Annie, Emma, and Politics, she proves she was a fine dramatic actress. As a comic she ranks among the all-time best.

Polly Moran plays another hateful character, but plays it well. Anita Page, Norman Foster, Henry Armetta, Claire du Brey, and Frank Darien co-star. Rather dark ending is salvaged by low comedy, but somehow it all works.

What drags Prosperity down is the repeated insertion of low comedy gags involving Polly Moran, a successful silent-era slapstick comedienne whose humor didn't play very well with sound. Far too much footage is wasted in setting up lame punch lines or overdone sight gags. These tedious distractions, unfortunately, also tend to involve the film's star, Marie Dressler, who could easily have done without them in her otherwise impressive portrayal of a small-town bank president who weathers the storm of economic depression by a combination of ingenuity and what they used to call gumption. The plot involves Dressler's struggle with entangled financial and familial crises.

Her son is played by Norman Foster who was an able actor but had no distinctive traits to set him apart from a host of other nice looking young male performers. Anita Page, just past her brief burst of major stardom, is cast as Foster's wife in an undemanding supporting role.

This film is less successful than "American Madness," released the same year, which is also about the travails of a small town banker during the Depression.