{"id":3962,"date":"2007-08-19T19:21:32","date_gmt":"2007-08-20T02:21:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3962"},"modified":"2021-02-01T11:43:01","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T18:43:01","slug":"if-i-had-a-million-1932","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3962","title":{"rendered":"If I Had a Million (1932)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I want to give somebody a chance at happiness. I don&#8217;t care who &#8212; I just want somebody to have something worthwhile out of what I spent my life to accumulate.&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Poster-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-29744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Poster-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Poster-91x128.jpg 91w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Poster.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA dying tycoon (Richard Bennett) decides to give his money away &#8212; $1,000,000 at a time &#8212; to eight randomly selected names in the telephone book.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Charles Laughton Films<\/li>\n<li>Episodic Films<\/li>\n<li>Ernst Lubitsch Films<\/li>\n<li>Frances Dee Films<\/li>\n<li>Gary Cooper Films<\/li>\n<li>George Raft Films<\/li>\n<li>Henpecked Husbands<\/li>\n<li>Millionaires<\/li>\n<li>Revenge<\/li>\n<li>W.C. Fields Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary notes, fans of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Millionaire_(TV_series)\">&#8220;The Millionaire&#8221; TV series<\/a> &#8212; or anyone fascinated by the lives of lottery winners &#8212; will doubtless enjoy this episodic film, directed by seven different men (including Ernst Lubitsch), and starring a host of Paramount&#8217;s most famous actors (Gary Cooper, W.C. Fields, George Raft, Charles Laughton, and more). As with any episodic film, some vignettes are more appealing than others; Peary correctly points out that &#8220;you&#8217;ll like best the three episodes in which [money can buy happiness]&#8221;, and be frustrated by those in which it can&#8217;t. Indeed, the most satisfying episodes are, as Peary notes, those in which &#8220;the money allows previously powerless people to put authoritarian figures in their place.&#8221; It&#8217;s a sign of the film&#8217;s appeal that, by the end, you feel sad that Bennett only selected eight names instead of more. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Henpecked Charles Ruggles&#8217; nightmarish dreams in the china shop<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Dream2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Dream2-1024x778.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"486\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67702\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Dream2-1024x778.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Dream2-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Dream2-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Dream2-768x584.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Dream2-355x270.png 355w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Dream2.png 1345w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Prostitute Wynne Gibson happily settling down for the night with ONE pillow<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Pillow.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Pillow-1024x777.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"486\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Pillow-1024x777.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Pillow-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Pillow-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Pillow-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Pillow-356x270.png 356w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Pillow.png 1359w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>An elderly woman (May Robson) changing her oppressive group home into a fun-loving club<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Club.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Club-1024x777.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"486\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Club-1024x777.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Club-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Club-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Club-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Club-356x270.png 356w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Club.png 1345w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Charles Laughton in the film&#8217;s shortest, but perhaps most satisfying, vignette<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Laughton.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Laughton-1024x783.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"489\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Laughton-1024x783.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Laughton-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Laughton-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Laughton-768x587.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Laughton-353x270.png 353w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Laughton.png 1353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>W.C. Fields and Alison Skipworth taking revenge on &#8220;road hogs&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Road-Hogs.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Road-Hogs-1024x781.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"488\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Road-Hogs-1024x781.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Road-Hogs-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Road-Hogs-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Road-Hogs-768x586.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Road-Hogs-354x270.png 354w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/If-I-Had-a-Million-Road-Hogs.png 1349w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s recommended, if you can locate a copy. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0023049\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/if-i-had-a-million\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I want to give somebody a chance at happiness. I don&#8217;t care who &#8212; I just want somebody to have something worthwhile out of what I spent my life to accumulate.&#8221; Synopsis: A dying tycoon (Richard Bennett) decides to give his money away &#8212; $1,000,000 at a time &#8212; to eight randomly selected names in the telephone book. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Charles Laughton Films Episodic Films Ernst Lubitsch Films Frances Dee Films Gary Cooper Films George Raft Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3962\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3962"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3962\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67705,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3962\/revisions\/67705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}