Has Anybody Seen My Gal?

Samuel Fulton left his fortune to the Blaisdell family because Millicent Blaisdell was the only woman he ever loved, but she rejected his proposal years earlier. The rejection drove him to become wealthy, and he wanted to ensure the money went to her family rather than remaining with him. He specifically chose them because he still harbored feelings for Millicent and hoped to positively influence their lives from afar.

Samuel Fulton used the alias John Smith to observe the Blaisdell family secretly and test whether they would remain honest people despite sudden wealth. He wanted to see if they would maintain their values of modesty and character, or become corrupted by money, before revealing his true identity and intentions.

Early scenes establish the Blaisdells as proud, humble people who value character over material goods, which is exactly what Samuel is testing.

Dan broke off his engagement because he felt he couldn't compete with the wealthy lifestyle the inheritance suddenly afforded Millie. He was a soda jerk with limited means, and the money created a social gap that made him feel inadequate. He believed Millie would be better off with someone like Carl Pennock who could provide the luxurious life her mother wanted for her.

Samuel Fulton got arrested when he intervened to protect Millie and Howard during a raid, likely for some legal violation related to his interference. Harriet misinterpreted his actions as threatening to the family's reputation rather than protective. Samuel accepted the arrest to shield the family from scandal and further complications.

The art show prize revealed that Samuel Fulton, whose alias John had been secretly entered by Roberta, was actually a talented painter who won first prize. This revelation exposed his true identity and talent to the family. After the prize was announced, Samuel quietly left the house to avoid the press attention, realizing the Blaisdells now saw him as the grandfather figure he could have become to Millie's children.

Roberta had been welcoming and friendly toward John throughout his stay, hinting at her eventual act of entering his work in the show.

Harriet Blaisdell wanted Millie to marry Carl Pennock because she had spent her life in modest circumstances and yearned for the financial security and social status that Carl's wealth could provide. She believed Carl could give Millie everything Harriet never had, and she was blind to Millie's true feelings for Dan.

The Pennocks refused to help the Blaisdells financially once the family's precarious financial situation became clear. They were snobbish and only interested in the Blaisdells' association while they appeared wealthy. When Charles revealed their investment losses and Norton refused a loan, the Pennocks saw no benefit in continuing the alliance and withdrew their support, effectively ending Carl and Millie's engagement.

The $100,000 inheritance transformed the Blaisdells from a humble, proud family into materialistic social climbers almost overnight. They abandoned their modest lifestyle, decorating their home with luxury items and pursuing upper-class appearances. Howard fell into gambling and debt, while the family's unity and values were temporarily corrupted by the sudden wealth.

The timeline shows the family quickly shedding their humble lifestyle once the money arrived.

Samuel arranged the cinema meeting to prevent Millie and Dan from permanently drifting apart due to the class divide created by the inheritance. He hoped bringing them together would help them reconnect and overcome the obstacles. However, the meeting became heated when Millie publicly expressed her contempt for the family's sudden wealth, which unintentionally drew onlookers' attention to Samuel and Millie, sparking gossip.

Roberta secretly entered John's paintings in the art show because she had discovered his artistic talent during his stay and wanted to give him recognition for his work. Her act of kindness revealed his hidden identity as Samuel Fulton when he won first prize, and it was her way of showing gratitude for the way he had treated the family.

Roberta was the one who made John feel welcome and likely observed his artistic pursuits during his time in the house.