I’d Rather Be Rich

The film opens with the credits accompanied by a performance by Robert Goulet and Andy Williams, establishing a light, musical mood. The sequence is mostly decorative, introducing the film's stylish vibe rather than advancing the plot. It sets the tone for a lighthearted romantic comedy.

Cynthia Dulaine sits at a nightclub table while Warren Palmer croons to her, signaling the start of their romance. The scene introduces the couple and hints at Cynthia's idealized fiancé. It foreshadows the complications to come.

Cynthia is called away to her dying grandfather's bedside, where Philip Dulaine reveals his wish that she find the right man to marry. He emphasizes that a stable match would make him a happier man in his final days. Cynthia is surprised by the intensity of his request.

Philip asks to meet Cynthia's fiancé as soon as possible, stressing the importance of the match for the company's future. This sets the goal of showcasing a suitable groom to the wary grandfather. Cynthia agrees to arrange a meeting.

Warren becomes stuck in Boston due to airport difficulties and cannot be with Cynthia. The delay threatens the grandfather's happiness and tests Cynthia's ability to keep the plan alive. The situation creates a problem that catalyzes the ruse.

To maintain the ruse, Cynthia approaches a stranger and asks him to pose as her fiancé for an introduction to her grandfather. The man turns out to be Paul Benton, an inventor seeking access to NASA contracts. He agrees to the ruse, hoping to gain an audience with Philip.

Benton's impersonation impresses Philip, especially after a demonstration of affection and a familiar gesture. The grandfather smiles at the display of chemistry between Cynthia and the faux fiancé, strengthening his faith in the match. The ruse achieves its initial success.

Philip reveals that Dulaine Enterprises is in danger of a hostile takeover and pleads with Cynthia to bring her fiancé to the board meeting. The board's attitude begins to shift as the potential ally and investment appear to stabilize the company.

During the meeting, the plan falters until Benton announces that Cynthia will invest her own money into the company. The prospect of personal stakes helps win over the board, though Cynthia later protests the lack of consultation. The dynamic confirms Benton's growing influence.

Cynthia, despite her misgivings, assists Benton by steering him toward the best contact at the company to get his paint tested by NASA. This move advances Benton's project and deepens the bond between the two, even as their rivalry intensifies.

Unbeknown to Cynthia, Philip has actually recovered and continues to feign illness, adding a comic cat and mouse dynamic with his nurse. He uses the pretense to influence the matchmaking process while keeping Warren at bay. The ruse tightens as the grandfather's influence grows.

The real Warren Palmer arrives and is forced to pose as Paul Benton to preserve the deception. Benton realizes he has fallen for Cynthia and begins to thwart late night romantic plans between the couple. The lovers' triangle becomes more tangled.

Palmer and Cynthia's car trip toward a planned getaway is interrupted as Benton sabotages their intimate moment. Palmer serenades Cynthia during the ride, but Benton's interference forces them to turn back. The love triangle's tension peaks at this moment.

Philip arranges a shareholders' dinner dance to push the couple together, but the night ends with a fistfight on the mansion lawn between the rivals. The scene heightens the romantic stakes and exposes the depth of Cynthia and Benton's feelings.

Philip announces that he is no longer dying and hints that the signs point to the man Cynthia truly loves. After several comic twists, Cynthia breaks off the engagement with Warren and ends up with Benton, sealing the match the grandfather hoped for. The film closes with a light hearted celebration of the couple's union.