The Match King
Synopsis
Unscrupulous Chicago janitor Paul Kroll uses deceit to fund a return trip to his homeland of Sweden. There, via ongoing continuing deceit and manipulation, he gradually attains a monopoly on the matchstick market in several countries and becomes an influential international figure. Based on the true story of Ivar Kreuger.
Top Cast
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Warren William
Paul Kroll
Lili Damita
Marta Molnar
Glenda Farrell
Babe
Juliette Compton
Sonia Lombard
Claire Dodd
Ilse Wagner
Harold Huber
Scarlatti
John Wray
Foreman of Janitors
Spencer Charters
Oscar
Murray Kinnell
Nyberg
Hardie Albright
Erik Borg
Alan Hale
Borglund
Edmund Breese
Olaf Christofsen
Robert McWade
Mr. Larsen
Irving Bacon
Messenger with Bracelet (uncredited)
Harry Beresford
Christian Hobe (uncredited)
Ed Brady
Prisoner Wanting Match (uncredited)
Wallis Clark
Erickson's Associate (uncredited)
John Elliott
Banker (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 31, 1932
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Howard Bretherton, William Keighley
- Screenplay & Story
- Houston Branch, Sidney Sutherland
- Original Score
- Bernhard Kaun
- Original Title
- The Match King
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 19m
- Production Studios
- First National Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Howard Bretherton, William Keighley
Houston Branch, Sidney Sutherland, Einar Thorvaldson
Bernhard Kaun
Robert Kurrle
Jack Killifer
Hal B. Wallis
Department Leadership Roster
Howard Bretherton
Director
William Keighley
Director
Houston Branch
Screenplay
Sidney Sutherland
Screenplay
Hal B. Wallis
Producer
Jack Killifer
Editor
Orry-Kelly
Costume Design
Robert Kurrle
Director of Photography
Bernhard Kaun
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Match King.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Match King.
Movies
Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
leftist movies
from ptp
MovieLens[20K:30K]
Chicago
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Match King
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Match King about?
Unscrupulous Chicago janitor Paul Kroll uses deceit to fund a return trip to his homeland of Sweden. There, via ongoing continuing deceit and manipulation, he gradually attains a monopoly on the matchstick market in several countries and becomes an influential international figure. Based on the true story of Ivar Kreuger.
Who directed The Match King?
The Match King was directed by Howard Bretherton, William Keighley.
Who stars in The Match King?
The principal cast of The Match King includes Warren William, Lili Damita, Glenda Farrell, Juliette Compton, Claire Dodd.
When was The Match King released and how long is it?
The Match King was released in 1932 with a total runtime of 1h 19m.
Who composed the musical score for The Match King?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Match King was composed by Bernhard Kaun.
Is The Match King based on a book or true story?
The Match King is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Einar Thorvaldson".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Match King?
The Match King holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).