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  • The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932)
  • Passed
    79 min | Comedy
The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932)
Passed
79 min | Comedy

Ex-showgirls and roommates Polaire Gwynn (Madge Evans) and Schatze Citroux (Joan Blondell) are reunited with their sometime friend and former co-worker, Jean Lawrence (Ina Claire), when she returns from France. Jean, a hard-boiled gold ...See moreEx-showgirls and roommates Polaire Gwynn (Madge Evans) and Schatze Citroux (Joan Blondell) are reunited with their sometime friend and former co-worker, Jean Lawrence (Ina Claire), when she returns from France. Jean, a hard-boiled gold digger, asks the honest Polaire and loyal Schatze to introduce her to a new man, and Polaire calls her boyfriend, playboy Dey Emery (David Manners), for help. The girls meet Dey and his friend, pianist Boris Feldman (the film's director Lowell Sherman), at a speakeasy, where Boris bets Jean that if his piano playing does not induce her to love him, he will give her $5,000. Later, at Boris' apartment, Jean pretends to sleep through Boris' concert. Polaire then plays, and Boris, impressed with her talent, offers to be her teacher. He implies that she will have to be his lover as well as his student, however, and Polaire becomes upset when Dey does not protest. Dey mistakenly assumes that an exhibition of jealousy would be unwelcome, and his inaction results in Polaire's acceptance of Boris' proposition. After Polaire leaves to collect her things, Schatze and the heartbroken Dey also leave, but Jean stays to seduce Boris. Jean's calculated exhibitionism is successful, and Boris does not answer the door when Polaire returns. After she leaves, Polaire is hurt in an automobile accident and is hospitalized. Sometime later, Jean tires of Boris and breaks up with him, then pursues Dey. Dey welcomes Jean's attentions until Schatze tells him that Polaire has been in the hospital since their parting. Dey immediately goes to Polaire and proposes to her, and they reconcile. Later, Jean makes an unwelcome appearance at Polaire and Schatze's apartment while Polaire is waiting to meet Dey's father Justin (Phillips Smalley) for the first time. When Dey arrives and Jean learns that Polaire is to meet Justin at the Emery house, she slips a pearl necklace into Polaire's pocket so that she will have an excuse to follow. Polaire's interview with Justin is going splendidly until Jean arrives and intimates that Polaire stole the necklace. Indignant that Dey believes Jean, Polaire storms out, while Jean stays to flirt with Justin. Later, on the day of Jean and Justin's wedding, Schatze and Polaire arrive to retrieve a bracelet that Polaire loaned Jean. Jean returns the jewelry and miserably contemplates her future of wedded boredom as Schatze and Polaire brag about the fun they will have when they sail for France that afternoon. The trio are soon drunk, and Jean decides that she cannot exchange her freedom for Justin's fortune. She sneaks out of the house with Schatze, but Polaire is caught by Dey. Dey apologizes to Polaire for misjudging her, but Polaire leaves anyway. The determined Dey follows her onto the ocean liner, where Polaire consents to marry him when he states that he is certain of her virtue. The couple then cuddles happily as Jean flirts with Schatze's male traveling companion. See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writers
Zoe Akins (play "The Greeks Had a Word for It") | Sidney Howard (adapted for the screen by)
Producer
Composer
Alfred Newman (music score by)
Cinematographer
George Barnes (photography by)
Editor
Stuart Heisler (film edited by)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Feb 3, 1932

Release date
Feb 13, 1932 (United States)

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Cast

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28 cast members
Name Known for
Joan Blondell
Schatzi Sutro Schatzi Sutro   See fewer
Madge Evans
Polaire Quinn Polaire Quinn   See fewer
Ina Claire
Jean Lawrence Jean Lawrence   See fewer
David Manners
Dey Emery Dey Emery   See fewer
Lowell Sherman
Boris Feldman Boris Feldman   See fewer
Phillips Smalley
Justin Emery Justin Emery   See fewer
Sidney Bracey
The Waiter The Waiter   See fewer
Louise Beavers
Beautician (uncredited) Beautician (uncredited)   See fewer
Wilson Benge
Bellings - the Butler (uncredited) Bellings - the Butler (uncredited)   See fewer
Ward Bond
Taxi Driver (uncredited) Taxi Driver (uncredited)   See fewer
Harry Bowen
Schatze's Cabby (uncredited) Schatze's Cabby (uncredited)   See fewer
Jack Byron
Speakeasy Patron (uncredited) Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)   See fewer
Charles Coleman
Waiter (uncredited) Waiter (uncredited)   See fewer
Albert Conti
Frenchman on Liner (uncredited) Frenchman on Liner (uncredited)   See fewer
Patrick Cunning
Men's Room Patron (uncredited) Men's Room Patron (uncredited)   See fewer
Jay Eaton
Nightclub Patron (uncredited) Nightclub Patron (uncredited)   See fewer
Bill Elliott
Wedding Guest (uncredited) Wedding Guest (uncredited)   See fewer
Budd Fine
Cop at Accident (uncredited) Cop at Accident (uncredited)   See fewer
Betty Grable
Hat Check Girl (uncredited) Hat Check Girl (uncredited)   See fewer
Creighton Hale
Wedding Supervisor (uncredited) Wedding Supervisor (uncredited)   See fewer
Arthur Housman
Drunk (uncredited) Drunk (uncredited)   See fewer
Arthur Millett
Baggageman, Ile de France (uncredited) Baggageman, Ile de France (uncredited)   See fewer
Larry Steers
Man at Bar (uncredited) Man at Bar (uncredited)   See fewer
Henry Taylor
Garrett Law Secretary (uncredited) Garrett Law Secretary (uncredited)   See fewer
Harry Tenbrook
Taxi Driver (uncredited) Taxi Driver (uncredited)   See fewer
Ellinor Vanderveer
Wedding Guest (uncredited) Wedding Guest (uncredited)   See fewer
Walter Walker
Pop's Voice on Record (uncredited) Pop's Voice on Record (uncredited)   See fewer
Barbara Weeks
Beautician (uncredited) Beautician (uncredited)   See fewer
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