While the character played by Cyril Ritchard and Alice Pearce seem on the surface to be socially prominent, evidence turns up that they are not. It's mainly because of Ritchard who is more than just an sponge but an opportunist as well. Ernest Truex, their host and supposed second cousin, doesn't believe his son, Murray Hamilton, who senses that Ritchard and Pearce intend to leach off of him indefinitely. Hamilton gives Ritchard the ultimate test, the offer of a job, and of course that leads to further scheming by Ritchard to prevent that from happening. But there's a little twist that doesn't really add any conclusion, although Ritchard and the somewhat underutilized Pearce are amusing. This could have been so much better with a stronger script and better direction.
2 Reviews
Mild Comedy from TV's Golden Age
foosie-215 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Cyril Ritchard played Monty Gravenhurst; he and Alice Pearce were the spongers of the title, imposing on the good graces of a kind hearted retired man (Ernest Truex). When Truex's son Murray Hamilton comes to NY and learns these people have been living with his father for 10 months, he does everything he can to oust them, finally resorting to consulting with an elderly relative who keeps tabs on the family tree. When he discovers the spongers are not second cousins, which they claimed, Truex finally tosses them out, but then a bad storm happens, and he worries about them. Luckily, the Gravenhursts have made it no farther than the canopy in front of the building, before Cyril's character pretends to collapse, and Truex gladly welcomes them back, glad of the company and to have someone to look after. A good lesson in not interfering with the lives of your family. This showed up on the Decades channel on September 15, 2017. The best part of this may have been the little dance Cyril and Alice Pearce did, unfortunately behind a scrim, so seen only in silhouette.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews