Caught Short

Caught Short
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Directed by	Charles Reisner
Screenplay by	Robert E. Hopkins Joseph H. Johnson Willard Mack
Story by	Willard Mack
Based on	Caught Short by Eddie Cantor
Starring	Marie Dressler Polly Moran Anita Page Charles Morton Thomas Conlin
Cinematography	Leonard Smith
Edited by	George Hively Harold Palmer
Production company	Cosmopolitan Productions
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	May 10, 1930 (1930-05-10)
Running time	75 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Caught Short is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Charles Reisner and written by Robert E. Hopkins, Joseph H. Johnson, and Willard Mack. The film stars Marie Dressler, Polly Moran, Anita Page, Charles Morton, and Thomas Conlin. The film was released on May 10, 1930, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.¹²

In Washington Square, New York, two neighboring boardinghouse proprietors—Marie Jones and Polly Smith—live in constant proximity and rivalry. Marie, the widow of a gambler, is cautious and frugal, while Polly, the widow of a miser, is extravagant and impulsive. Despite their endless petty jealousies and bickering, the two women remain inseparable companions and reluctant partners in life.

Marie’s daughter, Genevieve, and Polly’s son, William—recently returned from college—fall deeply in love. Their romance develops quietly in the background, largely unnoticed by their mothers, whose attention is consumed by ambition and competition.

Polly, eager to improve her fortunes, ventures into the stock market and begins investing in speculative ventures—shares like “American Cheese” and “Brazilian Bananas.” Though initially skeptical, Marie is gradually drawn into the same world. What begins as curiosity soon escalates into a full partnership: the two women plunge into stock speculation together. Through a combination of luck, boldness, and reckless enthusiasm, they amass extraordinary wealth, transforming themselves from modest landladies into high-society millionaires.

With newfound riches, Marie and Polly abandon their humble routines and immerse themselves in elite social circles—frequenting fashionable resorts, lavish parties, and the upper tiers of New York society. Yet their lack of refinement leads to a series of glaring social blunders, making them objects of ridicule even as they strive to outshine one another. Their rivalry intensifies as each attempts to surpass the other in displays of wealth and status.

Meanwhile, Genevieve and William’s love suffers under the strain of their mothers’ escalating conflict. A serious quarrel between Marie and Polly—sparked by business disagreements and mutual resentment—drives a wedge between the households. In their anger, the two women forcibly separate their children, refusing to acknowledge their feelings. Polly retreats with William to a seaside resort, embracing a life of leisure, while Marie, determined not to be outdone, doubles down on her social ambitions, throwing extravagant gatherings and risking ever greater sums in the volatile stock market. Their competition becomes obsessive, blinding them to the emotional toll on their children.

Fate brings them together again at a fashionable resort gathering, where tensions immediately reignite. Amid renewed arguments and humiliation, Genevieve and William, pressured by pride and circumstance, once again part ways.

Wounded and resentful, William allows himself to be drawn into a relationship with a calculating artist (Priscilla), who feigns affection for him. In a moment of spite and wounded pride, he promises to marry her, hoping to provoke jealousy in Genevieve. In response—and encouraged by Marie—Genevieve resolves to find a suitor of her own, though she struggles to conceal her heartbreak and jealousy.

At the height of this emotional and financial turmoil, disaster strikes: a sudden collapse in the stock market wipes out both Marie and Polly’s fortunes. The wealth they had so eagerly pursued vanishes overnight, leaving them completely destitute. Rushing to confirm the devastating news, the two women abandon their rivalry in the face of shared ruin. Overcome with emotion, they reconcile at last, recognizing the futility of their quarrels and ambitions. Returning home, they confront the consequences of their actions—not only their financial downfall but the estrangement of their children.

At that moment, William receives a telephone call from Priscilla. Upon learning of his family’s financial ruin, she coldly breaks off their engagement, revealing her opportunism and lack of genuine feeling. Humiliated and heartbroken, William is left emotionally exposed. Genevieve, witnessing his pain, approaches him with compassion. In a moment of quiet intimacy, the barriers between them dissolve. Realizing the depth of their enduring love, they embrace and reconcile, casting aside pride, jealousy, and misunderstanding.

With their fortunes gone but their priorities restored, Marie and Polly resolve to return to their roots. They plan to reopen a modest boarding house together—this time with humility and mutual understanding—and to support the marriage of Genevieve and William. In the end, the two women, now wiser and more grounded, find contentment not in wealth or social status, but in family, reconciliation, and the simple life they once took for granted.