''Born Rich'' is a 1924 American silent

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

William Nigh William Nigh (October 12, 1881 – November 27, 1955) was an American film director, writer, and actor. His film work sometimes lists him as either "Will Nigh" or "William Nye". Biography Nigh was born Emil Kreuske''Silent Film Necrology'', ...

and written by Harriete Underhill and

Walter DeLeon Walter DeLeon (May 3, 1884 – August 1, 1947) was an American screenwriter and playwright. Biography Walter DeLeon was born on May 3, 1884 in Oakland, California. DeLeon made his playwright debut at Idora Park in Oakland. He wrote for 6 ...

. It is based on the 1924 novel ''Born Rich'' by Hughes Cornell. The film stars

Claire Windsor Claire Windsor (born Clara Viola Cronk; April 14, 1892 – October 24, 1972) was an American film actress of the silent screen era. Early life Windsor was born Clara Viola Cronk (nicknamed "Ola") in 1892 in Marvin, Phillips County, Kansas to ...

Bert Lytell Bertram Lytell (February 24, 1885 – September 28, 1954) was an American actor in theater and film during the silent film era and early talkies. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films. Background Born in New York City, Lyt ...

Cullen Landis James Cullen Landis (July 9, 1896 – August 26, 1975) was an American motion picture actor and director whose career began in the early years of the silent film era. Biography James Cullen Landis was the middle of three siblings (two sons and ...

Doris Kenyon Doris Margaret Kenyon (September 5, 1897 – September 1, 1979) was an American actress of motion pictures and television. Early life She grew up in Syracuse, New York, where her family had a home at 1805 Harrison Street. Her father, Dr. Ja ...

Frank Morgan Francis Phillip Wuppermann (June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949), known professionally as Frank Morgan, was an American character actor. He was best known for his appearances in films starting in the silent era in 1916, and then numerous soun ...

, and

J. Barney Sherry J. Barney Sherry (March 4, 1874February 22, 1944) was an American actor of the silent film era. He appeared in more than 210 films between 1905 and 1929. He was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from card ...

. The film was released on December 7, 1924, by

First National Pictures First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

Plot

As described in a review in a film magazine, leaving her palatial home and fast set of wealthy friends, Chadyeane (Windsor) goes to France where her baby is born. During her absence, Frances (Kenyon) makes such a strong play for Jimmy (Lytell) that Major Murphy (Sherry) writes a warning letter to Chad about her husband. Chad returns and misinterprets the meaning of a suitcase in her boudoir which Frances had inadvertently left there while changing her riding habit. Chad then affects a love affair with Jack (Landis), one of the fast crowd, ruling that married couples should travel on a 50-50 basis in all things. Many times Chad threatens to, and almost does, elope with Jack when her husband further compromises himself, mostly through inadvertences, with the butterfly, Frances. Eugene Magnin (Morgan), Jimmy's associate, in love with Frances, financially ruins Fairfax when the latter, in a drunken stupor, gives him power of attorney. Believing that they are "broke," Jimmy suddenly undergoes a rejuvenation. He spanks his wife, dresses his impudent child in overalls, and becomes generally aggressive. Major Murphy has saved Jimmy from bankruptcy, but Mrs. Fairfax, under the impression that her husband is now poor, forgives the suitcase incident and other similar incidents, abandons her affected love affair, and everything winds up happily.

Cast

Preservation

A copy of ''Born Rich'' is maintained at the

Deutsche Kinemathek Die Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen is a major German film archive located in Berlin. History The Deutsche Kinemathek opened in 1963. Until the opening of a permanent display in the Museum of Film and Television Berlin (Mu ...

in Berlin.Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''Born Rich''
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References

External links

* *

at the Claire Windsor website

at silenthollywood.com {{William Nigh 1924 films 1920s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1924 comedy films First National Pictures films Films directed by William Nigh American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1920s American films