I don't know if I've ever seen a more anti-Semitic film than The House of Rothschild. It was a huge hit in 1934 and nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, but it doesn't stand the test of time at all and is quite offensive. In the opening scene, George Arliss is made up in a heavy beard and wig as he portrays the patriarch of five young Rothschilds. He's married to Helen Westley, and as they wring their hands and grin with glee talking about how they swindled money out of a cunning agent, they're quick to shout and cry when they discover they've actually been cheated by the same agent. When they're audited by tax collectors, George hides their earnings then haggles with the auditors to try and save as much money as possible. When they leave, he makes an impassioned speech to his five sons about how money is the only power the Jewish people can have, and after this melodramatic display, he collapses and dies. That's the first ten minutes of the film.
If you watch more than that, it's probably because you're anxious to see Boris Karloff, Loretta Young, Robert Young, and C. Aubrey Smith, who were in the credits, or you're wondering why George Arliss got first billing when he died after ten minutes of screen time. To answer the second question, George plays one of the five sons as the film advances thirty years in time. Each of the five sons are successful bankers who follow their father's preaching about money and power. Robert Young isn't given anything to do besides smooch Loretta, and Loretta isn't given anything to do besides look very pretty in a blonde wig. Boris is unrecognizable without horror makeup, so you might miss him, and C. Aubrey looks very young. There is one unique part of the movie that was quite impressive in 1934: the last five minutes is shown in Technicolor!
Once again, there's no reason to watch this movie, unless you're on a crusade to watch every Best Picture nominee ever made. It's very offensive, and George Arliss's overacting is laughable. He's given good performances in other films, so you can find another one.
If you watch more than that, it's probably because you're anxious to see Boris Karloff, Loretta Young, Robert Young, and C. Aubrey Smith, who were in the credits, or you're wondering why George Arliss got first billing when he died after ten minutes of screen time. To answer the second question, George plays one of the five sons as the film advances thirty years in time. Each of the five sons are successful bankers who follow their father's preaching about money and power. Robert Young isn't given anything to do besides smooch Loretta, and Loretta isn't given anything to do besides look very pretty in a blonde wig. Boris is unrecognizable without horror makeup, so you might miss him, and C. Aubrey looks very young. There is one unique part of the movie that was quite impressive in 1934: the last five minutes is shown in Technicolor!
Once again, there's no reason to watch this movie, unless you're on a crusade to watch every Best Picture nominee ever made. It's very offensive, and George Arliss's overacting is laughable. He's given good performances in other films, so you can find another one.