Before Paul Muni signed with Warner Brothers, George Arliss was their prestige actor, usually assigned to biographical films like Disraeli, Alexander Hamilton, Voltaire and the like. In between however he did do other and more modern roles.
Arliss like Muni is criticized today for the haminess of some of his performances. Times and styles do change, but I don't think anyone could mistake Arliss's charm in The Millionaire for ham.
The plot premise is similar to Dodsworth. Arliss is a millionaire who's been told to slow down and take it easy. And he and wife Florence do just that, but become bored.
In a memorable bit part before he became a star, a fast talking insurance salesman, James Cagney, tells him he needs activity in his life more than anything.
Around that time daughter Evelyn Knapp falls for hardworking David Manners and Arliss on the Q.T. assumes an alias and helps the wheels of romance along by providing Manners with the know how and some mysterious funds to vanquish his gas station business competitors.
Arliss is brilliant and charming, but the film is best known for that ten minute scene with Arliss and James Cagney. There's no way you can see that scene now and not feel that Cagney was going to be a major star.
The Millionaire though old fashioned because the days of independent gasoline stations are long gone, still has a lot of charm to it and it's a chance to see a great stage star of the past and a film legend get together.
Arliss like Muni is criticized today for the haminess of some of his performances. Times and styles do change, but I don't think anyone could mistake Arliss's charm in The Millionaire for ham.
The plot premise is similar to Dodsworth. Arliss is a millionaire who's been told to slow down and take it easy. And he and wife Florence do just that, but become bored.
In a memorable bit part before he became a star, a fast talking insurance salesman, James Cagney, tells him he needs activity in his life more than anything.
Around that time daughter Evelyn Knapp falls for hardworking David Manners and Arliss on the Q.T. assumes an alias and helps the wheels of romance along by providing Manners with the know how and some mysterious funds to vanquish his gas station business competitors.
Arliss is brilliant and charming, but the film is best known for that ten minute scene with Arliss and James Cagney. There's no way you can see that scene now and not feel that Cagney was going to be a major star.
The Millionaire though old fashioned because the days of independent gasoline stations are long gone, still has a lot of charm to it and it's a chance to see a great stage star of the past and a film legend get together.