Beg, Borrow or Steal
“A Laugh-A-Minute romance!”
Synopsis
We find con-man Ingraham Steward living by his wits by steering wealthy Paris visitors to sellers of fake paintings and other assorted dodges. He and his wife, Agatha, have been separated for 15 years, but he promises to give their daughter, Joyce, a lavish wedding at his "château" in France. The fact that he doesn't have a château in France is just a minor trifle. He induces the caretaker, Bill Cherau, of a large country estate to allow it to be used for the wedding. The wedding party arrives and Bill falls madly in love with Joyce and she with him, but a gal has gotta do what a gal has gotta do, and her intended marriage to stuffed-shirt Horace Miller stays on the books. But Steward has a change of heart and he tells one and all that he and his friends, Von Gersdorff, Lefevre, Iznamof, Clifton Summitt and Sasch, are all frauds and crooks. Horace and his family stalk out, which is just fine with Joyce as her true love, the caretaker, is waiting on the grounds.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Frank Morgan
Ingraham Steward
Florence Rice
Joyce Steward
John Beal
Count Bill Cherau
Janet Beecher
Mrs. Agatha Steward
Herman Bing
Von Giersdorff, aka Count Herman
Erik Rhodes
Lefevre
George Givot
Izmanov
E. E. Clive
Lord Nigel Braemer
Tom Rutherford
Horace Miller
Cora Witherspoon
Mrs. Elizabeth Miller
Reginald Denny
Clifton Summitt
Vladimir Sokoloff
Sascha
Harlan Briggs
Mr. Virgil Miller
Lowden Adams
Braemer's Servant (uncredited)
Egon Brecher
Antique Shop Proprietor (uncredited)
Leonard Carey
James, Lord Braemer's Butler (uncredited)
Joseph Crehan
Mr. Parsons, Murillo Customer (uncredited)
Robert Du Couedic
French Detective (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 3, 1937
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Wilhelm Thiele
- Screenplay & Story
- Leonard Lee, Harry Ruskin, Marion Parsonnet
- Original Score
- William Axt
- Original Title
- Beg, Borrow or Steal
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 12m
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Wilhelm Thiele
Leonard Lee, Harry Ruskin, Marion Parsonnet, William C. White
William Axt
William H. Daniels
Conrad A. Nervig
Frederick Stephani
Department Leadership Roster
Wilhelm Thiele
Director
Leonard Lee
Screenplay
Harry Ruskin
Screenplay
Marion Parsonnet
Screenplay
Frederick Stephani
Producer
William Axt
Original Music Composer
William H. Daniels
Director of Photography
Conrad A. Nervig
Editor
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 Beg, Borrow or Steal.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Beg, Borrow or Steal.
list4
MovieLens[20K:30K]
Similar Titles to Beg, Borrow or Steal
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.8
7.4
8.0
7.2
6.7
6.2
7.3
7.5
7.5
6.8
4.8
5.5
6.8
7.0
6.1
6.2
6.9
5.7
5.8
6.2
More Like Beg, Borrow or Steal
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beg, Borrow or Steal
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Beg, Borrow or Steal about?
We find con-man Ingraham Steward living by his wits by steering wealthy Paris visitors to sellers of fake paintings and other assorted dodges. He and his wife, Agatha, have been separated for 15 years, but he promises to give their daughter, Joyce, a lavish wedding at his "château" in France. The fact that he doesn't have a château in France is just a minor trifle. He induces the caretaker, Bill Cherau, of a large country estate to allow it to be used for the wedding. The wedding party arrives and Bill falls madly in love with Joyce and she with him, but a gal has gotta do what a gal has gotta do, and her intended marriage to stuffed-shirt Horace Miller stays on the books. But Steward has a change of heart and he tells one and all that he and his friends, Von Gersdorff, Lefevre, Iznamof, Clifton Summitt and Sasch, are all frauds and crooks. Horace and his family stalk out, which is just fine with Joyce as her true love, the caretaker, is waiting on the grounds.
Who directed Beg, Borrow or Steal?
Beg, Borrow or Steal was directed by Wilhelm Thiele.
Who stars in Beg, Borrow or Steal?
The principal cast of Beg, Borrow or Steal includes Frank Morgan, Florence Rice, John Beal, Janet Beecher, Herman Bing.
When was Beg, Borrow or Steal released and how long is it?
Beg, Borrow or Steal was released in 1937 with a total runtime of 1h 12m.
Who composed the musical score for Beg, Borrow or Steal?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Beg, Borrow or Steal was composed by William Axt.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Beg, Borrow or Steal?
Beg, Borrow or Steal holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).