''Children of the Ritz'' is a 1929 synchronized sound drama film from

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 ...

. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the

Vitaphone Vitaphone was a sound film system used for feature films and nearly 1,000 short subjects made by Warner Bros. and its sister studio First National Pictures, First National from 1926 to 1931. Vitaphone is the last major analog sound-on-disc sys ...

sound-on-disc process. The film stars

Dorothy Mackaill Dorothy Mackaill (March 4, 1903 – August 12, 1990) was a British-American actress, most active during the silent-film era and into the pre-Code era of the early 1930s. Early life Mackaill was born at 20 Newstead Street in the Dukeries, Kin ...

and

Jack Mulhall John Joseph Francis Mulhall (October 7, 1887 – June 1, 1979) was an American film actor beginning in the silent film era who successfully transitioned to sound films, appearing in over 430 films in a career spanning 50 years. Early years Mu ...

. The plot is based on a

Cornell Woolrich Cornell George Hopley Woolrich ( ; December 4, 1903 – September 25, 1968) was an American novelist and short story writer. He sometimes used the pseudonyms William Irish and George Hopley. His biographer, Francis Nevins Jr., rated Woolrich the ...

story.

Plot

A spoiled rich girl falls for a poor chauffeur. Their situations are changed when her family loses all their money and he wins $50,000 at a racetrack. They get married, but it's not long before she starts spending their money the way she used to spend hers.

Cast

- Angela Pennington *

- Dewey Haines * James Ford - Gil Pennington *

Richard Carlyle Richard Carlyle (March 20, 1914 – November 15, 2009) was a film, television and Broadway actor. Early years Carlyle was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. His education included attendance at Sherwood Dramatic Art School and the Art ...

- Mr. Pennington *Evelyn Hall - Mrs. Pennington *

Kathryn McGuire Kathryn McGuire (December 6, 1903 – October 10, 1978) was an American dancer and actress. Early life Born in Peoria, Illinois, McGuire was said to be recognized by critics and fans alike as one of the rising stars in film. Selected one of ...

- Lyle Pennington *

Frank Hall Crane Frank Hall Crane (January 1, 1873 – September 1, 1948) was an American stage and film actor and film director, director.Edmund Burns Edmund Burns (sometimes billed as Edward Burns; September 27, 1892 – April 2, 1980 ) was an American actor. Early years Burns was a twin and one of 13 children in a Catholic family in Philadelphia. He acted in plays when he was in high scho ...

- Jerry Wilder (*Eddie Burns) * Doris Dawson - Margie Haines *

Aggie Herring Agnes Herring (February 4, 1876 – October 28, 1939) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 100 films between 1915 and 1939. She was born in San Francisco and died in Santa Monica, California.