The Richest Girl in the World Reviews

Miriam Hopkins, as the title poor little rich girl, wants to be sure that men love her for herself, not for her money. Accordingly, she talks secretary Fay Wray into switching places with her for a while, posing a test to the man of Hopkins' dreams, Joel McCrea. He passes with flying colors in this romantic, glamorous comedy. The story's fresh and clever spin on old themes works well thanks to Norman Krasna's strong screenplay, which earned an Oscar nomination and which features wonderful, natural dialog that complements several plausible and imaginatively staged plot twists. Producer Pandro S. Berman bought the script with his own money for RKO, allowing Krasna to get the last laugh on MGM head Louis B. Mayer, who had been blackballing the writer. (Krasna received an Oscar nomination for this film, and went on to a highly successful career, specializing in comedies of mistaken identity.) Hopkins, a fine comedienne (working on loan from Paramount), gives a funny, honest performance in the lead, and Wray (loaned from 20th Century-Fox) is also very good in her supporting role, as is McCrea as the earnest young lover. William A. Seiter's direction is smart and snappy, making the most of his strong material and cast. The film was later remade as BRIDE BY MISTAKE (1944).