Soak the Rich
Cast & Crew
Ben Hecht
Walter Connolly
John Howard
Mary Taylor
Lionel Stander
Ilka Chase
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Conservative millionaire Humphrey Craig is fearful that a "soak-the-rich" bill will pass in the United States Senate. He keeps apprised of the situation by having Captain Pettijohn report on Communist activities and by making direct calls to the President. Craig is constantly receiving death threats and bombs in the mail because of his great wealth. His bored, spoiled daughter Belinda, meanwhile, becomes the victim of a firehose prank led by Buzz Jones at Craig University. Buzz heads a group of Communist-inspired intellectuals who are attempting to get a professor reinstated after he was suspended for supporting the "soak the rich" bill. Belinda is inspired by Buzz's cause and leaves home, donating her diamond jewelry and one hundred dollars to his group, who accept her as a member. Buzz makes Belinda resolve not to fall in love with him, as it would interfere with his work. One night Belinda attempts to seduce Buzz, but he refuses to respond and tells her to find a hotel for the night. She is subsequently kidnapped by Joe Muglia, a lunatic who wants to rule the world. Muglia sends a note to Craig demanding a two-million dollar ransom. Craig first approaches Buzz, thinking he is the kidnapper, but realizes his mistake and leaves with his detectives. Meanwhile, Buzz leads his friends on an all-night search for Belinda. Pettijohn tricks Muglia into opening the door of the room where he has tied up Belinda and arrests him. Belinda says she is sick of radicalism and returns home with her father, finally accepting the marriage proposal of Tommy Hutchins, an old friend. After Belinda returns home, Buzz becomes depressed, loses all interest in his campaign and, until he hears of her engagement, calls Belinda every day to no avail. When Belinda learns of Buzz's attempts to reach her, she cleverly breaks her engagement with Tommy. The same night, Buzz leads a protest march in front of the Craig mansion. Craig breaks down and agrees to reinstate the professor if Buzz will marry Belinda. At first, Buzz resists the idea of marriage, but when he finally agrees, all ends happily.
Cast
Walter Connolly
John Howard
Mary Taylor
Lionel Stander
Ilka Chase
Alice Duer Miller
Francis Compton
Joseph Sweeney
John W. Call
Edwin Phillips Jr.
Robert Wallsten
George Watts
Percy Kilbride
Isabel Foster
Con Macsunday
Edward Garvie
Allan Ross Macdougall
William Seidel
Mickey Sullivan
Danny Clyne
William Tilley
Ben Hecht
Charles Macarthur
Crew
Harold Godsoe
George Grosz
Charles Harten
Ben Hecht
Ben Hecht
Ben Hecht
Joseph Kane
Walter Keller
Charles Macarthur
Charles Macarthur
Charles Macarthur
John Ojerholm
Leon Shamroy
Trabert & Hoeffer, Inc.
Leo Zochling
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Communism is the growing pains of the young.- Butler
Trivia
Notes
This film marks Mary Taylor, John Call and Edwin Phillips's film debuts.
