Rich Girl

Rich Girl

Year: 1991

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Joel Bender

Drama

His Music… His Life… His Girl A rich Beverly Hills girl gets a job as a waitress, and falls in love with a rock singer.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Rich Girl (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Rich Girl (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 1980s

The story unfolds in the early 1980s, a era of flashy fashion, club culture, and shifting norms for young women. Nightlife and work opportunities collide with family expectations in this period of rapid social change. The era’s style—bold outfits and rebellious attitudes—frames Courtney’s pursuit of autonomy.

Location

Rocco's nightclub, Parking lot outside Rocco's

Rocco's nightclub serves as the central setting where Courtney tests her independence and navigates a high-stakes social scene. The parking lot outside becomes a tense flashpoint, highlighting the danger that can accompany life in the nightlife world. The venue itself embodies ambition, glamour, and the moral ambiguities of fame.

🎶 Nightlife 🏙️ Urban

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:36

Main Characters – Rich Girl (1991)

Meet the key characters of Rich Girl (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Courtney Wells (Jill Schoelen)

Courtney is a privileged, headstrong young woman who refuses to be defined by her father’s wealth. She quits college and pursues independence by taking a job, navigating a dangerous nightlife world, and courting controversy. Her bold choices bring her into conflict with her father and into a romance with Rick, driving the film’s emotional core.

💼 Ambitious 💃 Risk-taker 🧭 Independent

Rick (Don Michael Paul)

Rick is a skilled musician whose career and personal life are strained by ambition, jealousy, and tragedy. He falls for Courtney while dealing with the fallout of his past and his homeless father’s death. Their romance is passionate but tested by external pressures and career tensions.

🎸 Musiker 💔 Romance 🎭 Struggle

Michelle (Cherie Currie)

Michelle is Rick’s singing partner who quits, pushing Courtney to step in as a performer. She represents competition and professional pivot within the club scene, while also illustrating the vulnerabilities of artists under pressure.

🎤 Singer 🤝 Collaboration 🚧 Rivalry

Marvin Wells (Paul Gleason)

Marvin is Courtney’s father, a powerful figure who uses wealth and influence to control his daughter’s choices. He pressures Rick to stay away from Courtney and embodies the protective, sometimes coercive, side of privilege.

💼 Wealth 🧭 Control 🛡️ Authority

Jeffrey (Sean Kanan)

Jeffrey is Courtney’s fiancé, whose controlling attitude and manipulative tactics create tension and danger. He attempts to force Courtney to leave Roccos and even schemes to jeopardize Rick’s career, highlighting the darker side of power dynamics.

🧩 Manipulation 🗝️ Control 💢 Jealousy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:36

Major Themes – Rich Girl (1991)

Explore the central themes of Rich Girl (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Identity

Courtney seeks to redefine herself beyond her father’s wealth, testing the boundaries of independence. Her decisions—quitting college, taking a job, and choosing who to love—reveal the struggle between personal authenticity and family expectations. The film uses her journey to explore what defines a person beyond status.

💘 Romance

Courtney’s relationship with Rick becomes a crucible for trust amid social pressure and power struggles. Their romance faces interference from Jeffrey and Marvin, forcing them to confront loyalty and sacrifice. The romance drives the emotional arc, highlighting the costs of pursuing love in a world ruled by wealth and fame.

💰 Power & Class

Wealth and status shape opportunities, controls, and conflicts throughout the story. Marvin uses money to influence others and police his daughter’s choices, while Rick grapples with stigma and a complicated past. The film shows how money can both enable and complicate personal freedom and relationships.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:36

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Rich Girl Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Rich Girl, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Rich Girl Summary

Rich Girl Timeline

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Rich Girl Timeline

More About Rich Girl

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