Our text for this 1934 RKO Studios Year by Year episode is a William A. Seiter double feature distinguished by ultra-manipulative heroines and a simultaneous fascination with and unsubtle criticism of the rich: the comedy We're Rich Again, which earns a comparison to Preston Sturges for its innovative use of comedy tropes (particularly the high-concept heroine, brilliantly embodied by Marian Nixon), and the comedy-melodrama The Richest Girl in the World, with a demented Jamesian plot courtesy of noted screenwriter Norman Krasna and Miriam Hopkins in the title role. If Marian Nixon is playing six-dimensional chess with her wealthy relatives, Miriam Hopkins is moving her friends and love interest around like chess pieces. If that's not enough, we're also introducing a new segment in this episode: So This Is Sarris! (Dave's title; Elise wanted "Sarris It Ain't So!") In this Letterman-inspired segment, we use AI to randomly pick an entry from Andrew Sarris's The American Cinema and then riff on his opinion of the director. Who's our first director? Listen and find out! (If you look at the time stamps, that's cheating!)

Time Codes:

0h 00m 25s: 1934 & RKO

0h 06m 31s: WE'RE RICH AGAIN [dir. William A. Seiter]

0h 29m 01s: THE RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD [dir. William A. Seiter]

0h 51m 31s: So This Is Sarris (The American Cinema by Andrew Sarris) - Frank Borzage

Studio Film Capsules provided by The RKO Story by Richard B. Jewell & Vernon Harbin

Additional studio information from: The Hollywood Story by Joel W. Finler

1934 Information from Forgotten Films to Remember by John Springer

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* Marvel at our meticulously ridiculous Complete Viewing Schedule for the 2020s

* Intro Song: "Sunday" by Jean Goldkette Orchestra with the Keller Sisters (courtesy of The Internet Archive)

* Read Elise's latest film piece on Preston Sturges, Unfaithfully Yours, and the Narrative role of comedic scapegoating.