50 Million Frenchmen
(1931)
68 mins | Comedy | 14 February 1931
Director:
Lloyd BaconCinematographer:
Dev JenningsEditor:
Robert CrandallProduction Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.In the Broadway play, as well as reviews for the film, the first name of the character portrayed by Claudia Dell is spelled "Looloo," although at one point in the film, she writes the name as "Lu Lu." Var notes that the film was released in two-strip Technicolor, but the viewed print was in black and white. The original Broadway play contained songs by Cole Porter that were not included in the film version, although some were used as background music. William Gaxton, Helen Broderick and Lester Crawford repeated the roles they originated in the Broadway show, which was backed by Warner Bros. Contemporary reviews all make special mention of the final chase scene when Olsen and Johnson are followed by ever increasing numbers of policemen, who alternately get their feet stuck in tar or slide on oil-slicked streets. ...
In the Broadway play, as well as reviews for the film, the first name of the character portrayed by Claudia Dell is spelled "Looloo," although at one point in the film, she writes the name as "Lu Lu." Var notes that the film was released in two-strip Technicolor, but the viewed print was in black and white. The original Broadway play contained songs by Cole Porter that were not included in the film version, although some were used as background music. William Gaxton, Helen Broderick and Lester Crawford repeated the roles they originated in the Broadway show, which was backed by Warner Bros. Contemporary reviews all make special mention of the final chase scene when Olsen and Johnson are followed by ever increasing numbers of policemen, who alternately get their feet stuck in tar or slide on oil-slicked streets.
Wealthy American tourist Jack Forbes bets his friend, Michael Cummings, that he can win beautiful Looloo Carroll in two weeks without using any money he does not earn himself. To ensure that he does not cheat, Michael hires Simon and Peter to follow Jack in Paris. Jack meets Looloo right away, but loses her phone number. Hoping to earn a little money, Jack gets a job as a Parisian guide. He is about to be hired by Violet, an American tourist, when Looloo walks by. Looloo assumes that the woman is Jack's girl friend and he cannot set her straight without revealing that he has a job. She informs Jack that she will announce her engagement to Michael at a party that evening unless he does something to stop it. Because his clothes are being held in the hotel room in lieu of payment, Jack plays strip poker with a waiter for his tuxedo. When his disguise is penetrated, he dresses as a magician and attends the engagement party as the entertainment. With money he collected as part of his magic performance, Jack takes Looloo to the races. Michael gives them a phony tip and they bet everything on the horse. To everyone's surprise, the horse wins. At first, however, it appears the horse has been disqualified, and Jack tears up his and Looloo's tickets. Then the final announcement awards the win to Jack's horse after all, but he cannot collect his winnings. Looloo is nice about it, but when she sees Jack handing money to Violet, she misunderstands his actions and spitefully decides to marry Michael. ...
Wealthy American tourist Jack Forbes bets his friend, Michael Cummings, that he can win beautiful Looloo Carroll in two weeks without using any money he does not earn himself. To ensure that he does not cheat, Michael hires Simon and Peter to follow Jack in Paris. Jack meets Looloo right away, but loses her phone number. Hoping to earn a little money, Jack gets a job as a Parisian guide. He is about to be hired by Violet, an American tourist, when Looloo walks by. Looloo assumes that the woman is Jack's girl friend and he cannot set her straight without revealing that he has a job. She informs Jack that she will announce her engagement to Michael at a party that evening unless he does something to stop it. Because his clothes are being held in the hotel room in lieu of payment, Jack plays strip poker with a waiter for his tuxedo. When his disguise is penetrated, he dresses as a magician and attends the engagement party as the entertainment. With money he collected as part of his magic performance, Jack takes Looloo to the races. Michael gives them a phony tip and they bet everything on the horse. To everyone's surprise, the horse wins. At first, however, it appears the horse has been disqualified, and Jack tears up his and Looloo's tickets. Then the final announcement awards the win to Jack's horse after all, but he cannot collect his winnings. Looloo is nice about it, but when she sees Jack handing money to Violet, she misunderstands his actions and spitefully decides to marry Michael. Michael hires some Frenchmen to kidnap Jack. Simon and Peter rescue him, Violet clears up his misunderstanding with Looloo, and just before the deadline, Jack and Looloo are married, winning the bet.
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement AwardTOP SEARCHES
The Terminator
A full-page advertisement in the 24 Feb 1984 DV announced the recent start of principal photography, referring to the film by its working title, Terminator. ... >>
Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights opens and closes with a framing story featuring an elderly guardian relating the story of two rival brothers, Haroum-al-Raschid and Kamar al Zaman, to six ... >>
The Long Haul
Onscreen credits contain the following written acknowlegment: "The producer gratefully acknowleges the assistance and facilities made availabe to the producer by Leyland Motors Limited." Tom Morahan's onscreen credit reads ... >>
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
According to HR news items, "The Gentleman from Montana" (an unpublished story by Lewis R. Foster, alternately called "The Gentleman from Wyoming" by both contemporary and modern ... >>
