Kept Husbands (1931)
“He married up — and paid the price.”
Streamed free from the Internet Archive · no signup, no cost — this film is in the public domain.
Synopsis
A pre-Code class-clash romance: ex-All-American Dick Brunton accepts a wealthy heiress's wager that she can make him marry her, then resents living off her father's money. Joel McCrea and Dorothy Mackaill spar over pride, gender roles, and who really wears the pants. A snappy 1931 RKO programmer.
Cast
About the Director
Lloyd Bacon — Future Warner Bros. workhorse Lloyd Bacon directs with efficient energy, framing a pointed pre-Code argument about money, marriage, and male pride around an appealing young Joel McCrea.
Why It’s Free: The Public-Domain Story
Public domain by copyright non-renewal. The RKO Radio Pictures film was not renewed at the U.S. Copyright Office and entered the public domain in 1959 (Wikipedia's list of US public-domain films).
Behind the Scenes
Released by RKO in early 1931, it was an early starring vehicle for Joel McCrea. Its copyright was allowed to expire 28 years later, in 1959.
Did You Know?
- A young Joel McCrea, years before Sullivan's Travels, plays the title "kept husband."
- Director Lloyd Bacon went on to direct 42nd Street two years later.
- The plot is a frank pre-Code inversion of gold-digger comedies, with the man married for sport.
Reception & Legacy
Seen as a brisk, watchable pre-Code programmer; modern viewers note its surprisingly direct treatment of money and gender dynamics and McCrea's early-career charm.
Behind Office Doors
Millie
Letter of Introduction
The Lady Refuses