The Rich Are Always with Us (1932) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film is set primarily in elite New York social circles and Paris, with additional scenes in Romania, China, and India. The story moves between the glamorous world of Park Avenue high society and the romantic allure of Parisian boudoirs, creating a cosmopolitan backdrop for the characters' tangled relationships.

• new york
• paris
• romanina
• china
• india
• settings
• locations
• high society

The film is set in the early 1930s, portraying a world of glamorous society operating under rigid moral codes. This era was defined by public perception and reputation shaping characters' choices, where infidelity and divorce carried significant social consequences.

• 1930s
• era
• time period
• 1930s society

The film explores three interconnected themes: love versus duty, where romance collides with marital vows and social expectations; public scandal, showing how gossip endangers women's reputations and pressures calculated moves; and sacrifice and agency, depicting how Caroline balances care for her husband with personal longing within the era's moral constraints.

• themes
• love vs duty
• scandal
• sacrifice
• agency
• marriage
• infidelity

Caroline Grannard is a New York socialite portrayed by Ruth Chatterton who navigates a scandalous marriage and a rekindled romance. She is strong-willed and pragmatic, choosing to balance love with duty even as she faces pressure from her social circle. Her decision to wed Julian in a hospital moment underscores her sense of responsibility toward her husband while keeping hope for the future.

• caroline grannard
• ruth chatterton
• main character
• socialite

Julian Tierney is a novelist and war correspondent played by George Brent who loves Caroline. He proposes marriage after her divorce and his plans to travel to the Far East symbolize escape and possibility. He becomes drawn into a romantic triangle that is ultimately resolved by Caroline's sense of duty.

• julian tierney
• george brent
• novelist
• war correspondent
• love interest

Greg Grannard is a wealthy stockbroker portrayed by John Miljan whose affair with Allison triggers the central crisis of the film. He pleads for reconciliation and shows vulnerability after an accident leaves him in the hospital. His relationship with Caroline complicates the couple's choices and tests the endurance of their marriage.

• greg grannard
• john miljan
• stockbroker
• husband
• infidelity

The core relationship involves Caroline Grannard caught between her husband Greg, whose infidelity has damaged their marriage, and Julian Tierney, a longtime friend who is secretly in love with her. This love triangle is complicated further by Allison Adair, who schemes to orchestrate a scandal. The resolution comes through Caroline's decision to stay with Greg during his recovery while arranging a future with Julian.

• love triangle
• relationships
• romance
• julian
• greg
• caroline

Malbro, played by a young Bette Davis, is Caroline's friend who pressures Julian into a relationship and offers strategic advice throughout the film. She provides a counterpoint to Caroline's loyalty, adding complexity to the love triangle. Her role helps steer Caroline toward the decision to protect Greg while keeping a path to happiness open.

• malbro
• bette davis
• friend
• advisor

The film depicts how gossip menaces a woman's reputation in 1930s society. Allison's scheming to ignite rumors shows the danger that public scandal poses to social standing. The pressure of reputation pressures characters toward calculated moves, such as marriages of convenience. The hospital wedding scene highlights how appearances can mask true intentions.

• reputation
• scandal
• gossip
• social standing
• appearances

The film presents infidelity as a catalyst that disrupts marriages and forces difficult choices. Greg's affair with Allison triggers the central crisis, but the narrative explores how characters navigate the consequences within the era's rigid moral codes. The story treats divorce and romantic tension with a restrained, realistic tone that respects the characters' humanity.

• marriage
• infidelity
• divorce
• relationships
• adultery

The film has a bittersweet tone, balancing the glamour of its setting against the painful realities of a broken marriage and complicated new romance. The ending represents a quintessential bittersweet compromise: a marriage of convenience offers future hope but requires immediate sacrifice. This perfectly encapsulates the film's central theme of loyalty pulling the heart in two directions.

• tone
• bittersweet ending
• resolution
• romance
• glamour