You are here:

The Rich Are Always with Us

Name: The Rich Are Always with Us
Director: Alfred E. Green
Released: 1932
Duration: 71 min

Representation Score

2.6/10

Limited

1932

Director

Alfred E. Green

Runtime

71 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a typical Pre-Code romantic drama that prioritizes personal melodrama over social critique. While it offers a degree of ability to act to its female lead, the narrative remains tethered to traditional hierarchies. Its primary strength lies in its moderate subversion of gender roles through a protagonist who navigates divorce and independence. However, the film lacks multi-layered breadth and focuses on a homogeneous upper-class experience.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Rich Are Always with Us have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on heterosexual relationships and traditional marriages. There is no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or subtexts.

How does The Rich Are Always with Us portray gender?

Fair

Caroline Grannard plays a significant role in the story by confronting her husband and navigating a divorce. She shows intellectual autonomy but her value remains tied to the 'woman in crisis' cliché.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Rich Are Always with Us?

Minimal

The film features a homogeneous, Anglo-Saxon cast. There is no indication of racial blending or non-white protagonists within the New York and European settings.

How does The Rich Are Always with Us represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story operates within traditional Western social structures. It uses high society as a backdrop for melodrama without critiquing capitalism or Western institutions.

Does The Rich Are Always with Us include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities. No assessment can be made regarding this category.

Present on Screen

The female protagonist, Caroline Grannard, plays a significant role by confronting infidelity and pursuing a divorce.
The film provides a degree of emotional and intellectual autonomy for its lead woman, challenging era-specific passivity.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks racial and ethnic diversity, focusing on a homogeneous Anglo-Saxon cast.
The story adheres strictly to straight-centered romantic structures with no queer representation.
The plot remains anchored in traditional social mores and Western high-society clichés.

Official Synopsis

A wealthy couple's marriage is falling apart due to the man's infidelity. The wife's male friend has long loved her and sees his big opportunity.

How are these scores produced? →