Champagne for Caesar

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Celeste Holm and Ronald Colman in Champagne for Caesar (1950)

In order to get even with the pompous president of a soap company, an eccentric genius goes on his quiz show in order to bankrupt his company.In order to get even with the pompous president of a soap company, an eccentric genius goes on his quiz show in order to bankrupt his company.In order to get even with the pompous president of a soap company, an eccentric genius goes on his quiz show in order to bankrupt his company.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
In 1950 it was common to have the TV in the windows of shop, turned on and its sound transmitted outside the shop via speakers. Not a lot of TV's were in homes and it was not uncommon to see crowds packed in front of TV stores watching Uncle Miltie and other popular shows at the time.

Goofs
The quiz program is shown as a TV show complete with cameras on set but is sometimes referred to as a radio show, so it must be broadcast simultaneously on both media.

Quotes
Gerald: Does Polly want a cracker?
Caesar (voice): Polly wants a drink, let's get loaded.*hiccup*
Gerald: He says the darnest things, doesn't he?
Caesar (voice): How about a short one, how about a short one?
Beauregard Bottomley: [to Caesar] You've had your quota for the day. As I told you before, Gerald, neither I nor my sister taught him these expressions. His former master must have been the greatest reprobate since the emperor Nero.
Gwenn Bottomley: We found him one night leaning up against a lamppost. He couldn't remember where he lived.
Beauregard Bottomley: He still can't.
Gwenn Bottomley: Now we have him down to two drinks a day... soon we'll have him down to no drinks a day.
Caesar (voice): SQUAWK.
Beauregard Bottomley: Now you have frightened him. Caesar, Caesar...
Caesar (voice): CHAMPAGNE.
Beauregard Bottomley: No, no, sorry, you must rough it for a while.

Crazy credits
Opening and closing credits run against a background of champagne bubbles.

Connections
Featured in The Sopranos: The Knight in White Satin Armor (2000)

Soundtracks
Rock-a-bye Baby
(uncredited)
Traditional lullaby

User reviews45

Review

Featured review

9/10

Wit and erudition defeat insipidity and treachery.

I honestly don't know who could have played these parts better. This film is a masterpiece of casting. Colman manages to make a character who would be despised by most everyone in real life warm and sympathetic. Even his most cutting put-downs are delivered affably and without malice. He wishes to educate, not destroy, and Colman plays it dead-on.

Dated and yet timeless. Fluff with depth. A delightful paradox, well worth the price I paid for the DVD.

P.S: I bought the DVD based on the strength of the Quotes section of this IMDb listing!