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The title is an allusion to the words of Ariel’s song “Full fathom five” in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
A London couple, Fred and Emily (“Em”) Hill, are stuck in a mundane middle-class existence.
However, their life changes upon receipt of a letter informing them an uncle will advance them as much money.
Fred quits his job, and they both travel to France. After sampling Paris’s hot spots, they book passage on ocean liner from Marseille for the Orient.
However, Fred becomes seasick, leaving Em alone on board. Meanwhile, she meets with Gordon, a dapper, popular bachelor. For his part, upon recovery, Fred is smitten with German princess. As the voyage progresses, Fred and Em spend time with their new paramours, to the virtual exclusion of each other.
In Singapore, Fred and Em’s marriage is in shambles. Em prepares to leave with Gordon for his home in Kuala Lumpur. However, before boarding the train, Gordon reveals that Fred’s princess is actually a sham — a con artist, using him until his money runs out.
Realizing she cannot allow Fred to fall into this trap, Em abandons Gordon to warn her husband. But it is too late. Fred discovers his “princess” has just left for Rangoon his money. Fred and Em book passage home to England on tramp steamer.
Later, the ship is abandoned after collision in the fog. They are trapped in their cabin and prepare themselves for the end.
In the morning, however, they find the ship still afloat, and escape through a porthole. A Chinese junk arrives, and the crew proceed to loot the ship. they discover the crew have cooked the cat and served it for dinner.
In the ed, Fred and Em arrive home with their love presumably strengthened.
The shipboard sets include recreation of a full-size ship in a water tank (an element that would be recreated in the 1944 Lifeboat).
The director also experimented in the film’s innovative opening sequence, which shows city office workers leaving work at the end of the day. This dialogue-free scene was made on a constructed set and shot in a single continuous pan shot.
It is followed by extended comedic sequence depicting Fred’s workaday as he travels home via the London Underground, an act that is reminiscent of Chaplin and atypical Hitchcock staging.
Released between The Lodger (1927) and Hitchcock’s breakthrough hits, The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) and The 39 Steps (1935), Rich and Strange was a critical and commercial failure at both the British and American box office.
There is dialogue for only about a quarter of the film. Hitchcock’s experiment in pre-sound performances over dialogue was another contributing factor.
However, many features of silent films remain in the feature, including captions, exaggerated acting styles and heavy makeup.
Cast
Henry Kendall as Fred Hill
Joan Barry as Emily Hill
Percy Marmont as Commander Gordon
Betty Amann as The Princess
Elsie Randolph as the Old Maid, an annoying fellow passenger
Credits:
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Screenplay by Hitchcock, Alma Reville, Val Valentine, based on Rich and Strange by Dale Collins
Produced by John Maxwell
Cinematography John “Jack” Cox
Charles Martin
Edited by Winifred Cooper
Rene Marrison
Music by Adolph Hallis
Production company: British International Pictures
Distributed by Wardour Films (UK)
Release dates: Dec 10, 1931 (UK); Jan 1, 1932 (US)
Running time: 83 minutes
