''Strike It Rich'' is a 1990

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

film directed by James Scott, who also adapted the screenplay based on the 1955 novella ''

Loser Takes All ''Loser Takes All'' is a 1955 novella by British author Graham Greene. In his dedication Greene said he had not written "this little story" to encourage "adultery, the use of pyjama tops, or registry office weddings. Nor is it meant to discour ...

'' by

Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquir ...

, and starring Robert Lindsay,

Molly Ringwald Molly Kathleen Ringwald (born February 18, 1968) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and author. She was cast in her first major role as Molly in the NBC sitcom '' The Facts of Life'' (1979–80) after a casting director saw her playing an o ...

, and

John Gielgud Sir Arthur John Gielgud, (; 14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000) was an English actor and theatre director whose career spanned eight decades. With Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, he was one of the trinity of actors who dominated the Brit ...

Plot

In the 1950s, a young American woman living in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, Cary Porter (played by Ringwald), starts working at a large multinational firm where she meets accountant Ian Bertram (played by Lindsay). He falls head over heels in love with her and soon proposes. The head of the company, Herbert Dreuther (played by Gielgud), offers them a wedding and to pay for a honeymoon in

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (; ; french: Monte-Carlo , or colloquially ''Monte-Carl'' ; lij, Munte Carlu ; ) is officially an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is ...

, as well as the use of his yacht. Unfortunately, the well-meaning Herbert soon forgets all about the couple and his promise to send his yacht. When it does not arrive, Ian decides he has a sound way to win at roulette in order to pay their large hotel bill. As he becomes involved at the gambling tables, he leaves Cary to herself, and although his plan works and he wins big, enough to pay their bill, get them home, and have plenty money left over, their marriage is in big trouble.

Production

Ringwald wrote in ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issues ...

'' that the film was partly rewritten (and later recut and retitled) at the behest of

Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein (; born March 19, 1952) is an American former film producer and convicted sex offender. He and his brother, Bob Weinstein, co-founded the entertainment company Miramax, which produced several successful independent films includ ...

after she had signed on to it, and that she felt that she and Lindsay "were essentially asked to turn our backs on

cott Primo Water Corporation (formerly Cott Corporation) is an American-Canadian water company offering multi-gallon bottled water, water dispensers, self-service refill water machines, and water filtration appliances. The company is headquartered in ...

and film scenes that were not what we had agreed to"; she also alleges that she was eventually forced to sue Weinstein for her promised share of the gross. Lindsay largely corroborated this story to the BBC, and asserted that he had confronted Weinstein over the script changes and lost career opportunities as a result. It was Patrick Holt's last film appearance.

References

External links

* * 1990 films 1990 romantic comedy films Films based on British novels Films based on works by Graham Greene Films scored by Shirley Walker Films shot at Pinewood Studios British romantic comedy films 1990s English-language films 1990s British films English-language romantic comedy films {{1990s-romantic-comedy-film-stub