Champagne for Caesar (1950)

93% of users liked it
(54 ratings)

This comedy stars Ronald Colman as Beauregard Bottomley, a self-styled genius in need of a job. He applies for a position with a large soap company, but Burnbridge Walters (Vincent Price), the firm's willfully eccentric president, falls into a "trance" while interviewing Beauregard and decides not… More This comedy stars Ronald Colman as Beauregard Bottomley, a self-styled genius in need of a job. He applies for a position with a large soap company, but Burnbridge Walters (Vincent Price), the firm's willfully eccentric president, falls into a "trance" while interviewing Beauregard and decides not to give him the job. When Beauregard overhears his sister Gwenn (Barbara Britton) listening to a game show sponsored by Walters' soap company, he discovers the perfect means to get revenge -- each time a contestant answers a question correctly, they double their prize money. Beauregard gets a spot on the show and starts winning -- and doesn't stop. Before long, the company owes him $40 million and Beauregard hasn't even broken a sweat. Beauregard is poised to bankrupt Walters and destroy his company, so the soap tycoon persuades Flame O'Neal (Celeste Holm) to pose as a nurse who will (a) find out if there's anything Beauregard doesn't know, and (b) distract him romantically. While a critical success and something of a cult item, Champagne for Caesar was a box office disappointment on its initial release; Ronald Colman appeared in only two more films before his death eight years later. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Richard Whorf
Written By: Hans Jacoby, Fred Brady
Genres: Television, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: May 11, 1950 Wide
On DVD: Mar 29, 2005

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Has a field day spoofing the moronic TV shows sponsored by soap companies.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

One of my favourite 50s comedies, especially because of Price's performance, he's hilarious. The story is really clever and funny as well, and Colman is the perfect choice to play the main character. If you're a fan of either of them, I highly recommend checking out… More
One of my favourite 50s comedies, especially because of Price's performance, he's hilarious. The story is really clever and funny as well, and Colman is the perfect choice to play the main character. If you're a fan of either of them, I highly recommend checking out this movie.