User Reviews

But this time, she is not sniffing out of judgment or disapproval, but an attitude of "Been There, Done That!" As a polo playing grandmother who hangs out with the younger set, she's got her hands full with her destitute brood. Son-in-Law Grant Mitchell is trying to avoid a court summons, while dizzy daughter Billie Burke spends her time wondering how the Asian butler can spend a quarter for a whole family meal. With one daughter getting married and other assorted relatives popping in and out (doing all sorts of things to keep summons server Edgar Kennedy from getting to pops), there is not a moment of peace.

Then overly chatty and cheerful cousin Marian Nixon arrives and turns things even more upside down. This young lady, who talks more than a Minna bird and borrows clothes from her young cousin without permission, is one of the most annoying characters on and off screen. One wishes they'd give her the medicine that keeps cats from meowing! Other than that, this is a fairly amusing comedy with Edna May Oliver and Billie Burke stealing every scene except the ones that they share with each other. Burke, with her chirpy voice and fluttery mannerisms, managed to be lovably unlike the character of the chatterbox niece. Buster Crabbe, as the strong and silent swimmer, visually steals his scenes not with words but with his physique. This is a great example of pre-code Hollywood at its most extreme. Oliver, in her polo outfit, is quite striking. It compliments her long face that was humorously spoofed as "horsey". Edgar Kennedy gives his typically funny slow burn performance that is helped by good material. Art deco sets and pretty costumes don't hurt, either. Film historians will note that Burke and Mitchell were reunited as husband and wife at Warner Brothers 7 years later for "The Man Who Came to Dinner".

I have always loved performances by Edna May Oliver in any film...until now. Even she can't save this hopelessly dated film. And the date is crucial here. By 1934, many films were getting rather sophisticated. But there are exceptions, and this is one. This film is almost primitive, and I advise you not to waste your time.

Is there anyone with a more annoying voice and manner than Billie Burke? Well, at least in this film, Marian Nixon comes close. Together, they made this whole film grate on my nerves. And, Reginald Denny...just how did he become a busy actor? I guess the highlight of the film is looking at Buster Crabbe's fully shaved physique...and that's not much of a highlight...and Crabbe has few lines, though he appears throughout the film.

As to the plot, it's another of those 1930s stories about the well to do, although the family involved is well to due (as in bills). A wedding is in sight, and just which girl will get the used groom.

This is just plain mediocre. Pass it by.

This was one dumbass movie. It had no redeeming qualities. My only hope with a title as shallow as "We're Rich Again" was that the movie would be funny, and it failed miserably at that.

The Page family was going through financial straits. Things were so bad that a process server was camped out in their front yard waiting to serve Wilbur Page (Grant Mitchell) who was so spent that he dared not leave the house for fear of getting served. In the meantime his eldest daughter Carolyn (Joan Marsh) was preparing to marry a stiff named Bookington 'Bookie' Wells (Reginald Denny).

The whole house was put into a twitter when cousin Arabella arrived (Marion Nixon). She came through like a country bumpkin tornado with her southern accent, dumb ideas, and impositions. Once she hit the scene the movie was all about her, and you knew that underneath that idiot veneer that she was just smart enough to save the day.

And that's what happened.

She convinced Erp (Buster Crabbe), a silent swimmer who spent the entire movie shirtless and in swim trunks, to marry Victoria Page (Gloria Shea). As sudden, impulsive, and upsetting as such a marriage was, it turned out to be a Godsend because Erp was rich, which made it all good. And if you're wondering what kind of name is Erp, it's an acronym. It stands for Eragnous Rockwell Penington, but Victoria was too brainless to think of a better nickname than Erp.

Arabella also gave Wilbur, the patriarch, a stock tip that she overheard that was set to make Wilbur five times his money. At first it seemed like it was going to tank him further, but she made some simple suggestions to Bookie which was set to make the stock skyrocket.

As for Carolyn and Bookie's wedding, Arabella effectively busted that up. But that was OK because Carolyn realized she didn't want to marry him anyway, which made him available for Arabella to marry because, like I said, this was a dumbass movie.

This was one of those movies where the apparent well-intentioned imbecile isn't as bad or as dumb as she appears even if she is extremely irksome. I contend that Arabella was conniving even if she had some good intentions.

I say she was conniving because she was making moves--however subtle--on Bookington. It worked out for everyone in the end, but it was still sleazy disguised as innocence. It started when she took one of Carolyn's best and sexiest dresses. What cowpoke goes for a glamorous dress when she simply needed something different to wear? And who borrows any woman's clothes without asking? She then used her talkative country faux innocence to explain that "cousin Carolyn would just simply not mind because she wouldn't want me in the old rags I had on" or whatever she said to justify it.

After the clothes stealing, she occupied just about all of Bookington's time when that idiot should've been getting ready for his wedding. So, when Carolyn opted not to marry him, Arabella the southern succubus stepped right in.

Yeah, it was a movie with a happy ending for everyone except the viewer. It was shallow, stupid, and totally unsatisfying.

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