Beautiful, moving film.

Absolutely Fantastic

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

This wonderful 1938 film depicts the basic differences between upper and lower class families when the wealthy Robert Young falls deeply in love with his secretary, Ruth Hussey. Hussey speaks and acts as if she is upper class. Yet, she is devoted to her family and will not wed the Young character until he gets to know her family better.She may not have come from a rich family, but she sure came from a family with close ties building a foundation of love.Lew Ayres steals the film as the nephew who came to live with the family at the age of 14. He certainly shows extreme socialist views as he goes from one job to another. Lana Turner,as Hussey's sister, is great as the sister longing for a better life.With it all, people are people and love shall ultimately conquer all-even when there are great economic differences among the people.

Ruth Hussey works for Robert Young and is preparing to go on vacation, so she instructs Virginia Grey what to do and how and when to do it in her absence. But then Bob enters the office and we see that Bob and Ruth are more than boss and secretary. Long story short, she doesn't go on her vacation after all, when Bob on the spot proposes to her. But, after missing her train, instead of jumping in with both feet, her pride gets in the way and she tells him they need to wait, because essentially they come from different backgrounds. So he decides, in order to understand her point of view, he must live with her family for a spell. Enter Ruth's zany family, especially Lew Ayres, who plays a cousin and who is constantly spouting off about "the great working class." Picture this. A rich man needs his appendix out. No problem. He can pay it. A poor man needs his appendix out. No problem. He's poor and not expected to pay. But the working class, woe is him. He's always behind the eight ball with bills and an operation he's expected to pay and go in debt because of it. This film is never dull and is very stimulating with constant bickering between him and sister Lana Turner, who dreams of a plush life, with nice things and keeps calling their place "a dump." Lana makes the most of her supporting role and gives a great performance, especially in her big crying scene. It could be said that she stands out as the highlight of the film, aside from Lew's tirades. (Lana had already been in the Andy Hardy series at this point and would make two more pictures with costar Lew Ayres. Lana's stardom was definitely on the ascendant. And, by the way, this is the first time she and costar Virginia Grey would be in the same picture together. Ms. Grey would be Lana's most frequent costar in her career.) Guy Kibbee is the father, who works in a hardware school and the mother loves the sea, as her ancestors were whalers. From stimulating conversation about "the great working class" and health reform (ideas still relevant today) and the chaotic life it appears the Thayers live, this short film delivers a punch and will leave you pleasantly fulfilled. "Rich Man, Poor Girl" is a stepping stone in the career of Lana Turner that has gotten lost in the shuffle, but its ideas are timeless and its characters are too vivid to forget.

During the 1930s' and the Great Depression Hollywood seemed to need too exclaim some sort of social conscience. Many of these films were meant to show that the 'Rich' could fall in love with the poor and they were not much different then the rest of us. Particularly if the 'Poor Girl', was attractive, well dressed and spoken and her 'seams' were always straight.RUTH HUSSEY filled the 'Poor Girl' role in 'Rich Man, Poor Girl' (1938). ROBERT YOUNG, the boss and 'Rich Man' who falls in love, wants to marry her and bring her up to his speed. Which by the way IS her speed. The conflict, is that the POOR GIRLs' family is a bunch of boobs, save for the Mother who had married beneath her for love. The worst of the lot is a Cousin played by LEW AYRES. He feels the need to dispense 'lunatic left' philosophy whenever the opportunity presents itself in the guise of representing the great (and unspoken) middle class. Not holding onto a job during the Great Depression is supposed to be one of his endearing traits. Did not play well then and does not in the early 21st Century.While HUSSEY and YOUNGs' character are sympathetic and the Mother SARAH PADDEN rings true the rest are just stereotypes. A young LANA TURNER of course is always worth looking at, but LEW AYRES character is not. He had been placed in this type of role before, if not him, HENRY FONDA or JAMES STEWART. They infest themselves with a-lot of Politically Correct social conscience (nonsense), but NO real solutions for any problems. Fortunetly common sense and true love win out in the end and everybody lives 'happyly ever after'. Wish all problems of the World could be solved as easily as in this movie.

Maltins book indicates that this is an imitation of"You Cant Take It With You".Given that i was never keen on that film my worst fears were realised.This is a bit of a mess as it lurches uncomfortably from comedy to drama and back again.The highlight of this film is a dark haired Lana Turner giving some indication of the star she would become within the next couple of years.Given that she does not have the poise of a star yet makes her performance that much more appealing.When she is on the screen lights up,when she is not the film becomes tiresome particularly the wild overacting of Lew Ayres who was rather more suited to the sobre role of Dr Kildare that he was about to take on.As for the leads well the less said the better.