Rich and Strange (1931)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Alfred Hitchcock (adaptation)
Dale Collins (novel)
(more)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Thriller

Plot:

Believing that an unexpected inheritance will bring them happiness, a married couple instead finds their relationship strained to the breaking point.

Plot Keywords:

Inheritance | Married Couple | Rain | Killing A Cat | Fancy Dress Ball

Cast

Henry Kendall	...	Fred Hill
Joan Barry	...	Emily Hill
Percy Marmont	...	Commander Gordon
Betty Amann	...	The Princess
Elsie Randolph	...	The Old Maid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aubrey Dexter	...	Colonel (uncredited)
Hannah Jones	...	Mrs. Porter (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Dale Collins		novel
Alfred Hitchcock		adaptation
Alma Reville
Val Valentine

Produced by
John Maxwell	....	producer

Original Music by
Adolph Hallis		(as Hal Dolphe)

Cinematography by
Jack E. Cox		(as John Cox)
Charles Martin

Film Editing by
Winifred Cooper
Rene Marrison

Art Direction by
C. Wilfred Arnold

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Mills	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Alec Murray	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Bryan Langley	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
John Reynders	....	musical director

Production Companies

• British International Pictures (BIP)

Distributors

• Wardour Films (1931) (UK) (theatrical)
• Powers Pictures Inc. (1932) (USA) (theatrical)
• Laserlight Entertainment (2003) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Castle Communications (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Laserlight Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1978) (Finland) (TV) (as MTV2)
• Maple Pictures (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Stokey Video (video)
• Studio Canal (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• Take 2 Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD) (5-disc Hitchcock Collection: The Early Years)

Also Known As:

"East of Shanghai" - USA
"Lo mejor es lo malo conocido" - Argentina, Spain
"À l'est de Shanghai" - France
"Öster om Shanghai" - Sweden
"Endlich sind wir reich" - Germany
"Gazdag és különös" - Hungary
"Peripeteies neoplouton" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Ricco e bizzarro" - Italy
"Ricco e strano" - Italy
"Ricos y extraños" - Spain
"Rig og mærkværdig" - Denmark
"Rikkauden huuma" - Finland

Runtime:

UK:92 min | USA:83 min | Canada:81 min (Ontario)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A (1931) (cut) | UK:U (2000) | Finland:K-12 (1995) | Canada:G (Ontario) | Australia:G (TV rating) | Brazil:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

British International Pictures (BIP)

Trivia:

The title comes from Ariel's song in "The Tempest": "Full fathom five thy father lies, / Of his bones are coral made, / Those are pearls that were his eyes: / Nothing of him that doth fade, / But doth suffer a sea-change / Into something rich and strange."

Goofs:

Continuity: As Emily and Commander Gordon are riding in a car together, when they are both in the picture they are close to each other but when only one is in the picture, they seem to be farther apart as if the other is no longer there.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Fred Hill:Hello Em.
Emily Hill:Hello Fred. I think you'll like me in this dress when it's done. Oh, have you broken your umbrella?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Story of 'Frenzy' (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

Auld Lang Syne

One of Hitchcock's best and a real treat!

I have been a Hitchcock fan for years yet had never stumbled on this early classic. Although several posters have commented that this film can't keep to a genre and seems to be all over the place, I disagree. RICH AND STRANGE is strictly comedy, albeit quite dark at times. It is Hitch's most British of satires and with an adventure setting to boot.

A young couple goes off on a world trip after being advanced some inheritance money. The adventure starved office worker husband, seeking to sail the world, finds he can barely survive crossing the English channel and the subservient housewife willing to sacrifice all for her beloved quickly finds another when left alone for a few days.

The ensuing travels shift the two from spectators in Paris to participants in the middle east to victims in the far east. It all proves they belong together. Among the classic Hitchcock touches of dark humour are the indignities of transportation and a cat who rightfully believes he belongs on the dining room table.

Some scenes contain primitive experimental camera techniques that are quite funny when you think about it. The "look left, look right" Paris travel montage, the drunken scenes and the play on the number 19 are quite unique and funny in their right.

I think steak and kidney pudding and a predictable life will do just fine from now on.