Middle aged George F. Babbitt is a leading citizen in the town of Zenith, the fastest growing community in America according to its town sign. George is a large part of that growth as a property developer and realtor. He is lovingly married to his wife Myra, the two who have two children, Ted and Verona who are approaching adulthood. George has always had a fearless attitude, much like that of a naive child, which has led to his business success. He encounters some personal stresses when he faces what he believes is a potential home-wrecking issue, and when his oldest friend Paul and his wife Zilla deal with domestic problems. These stresses make George want to provide even more to his own family, leading to George agreeing to participate in a less than scrupulous but lucrative business dealing. George's bravura gets him into a potential scandal. This situation makes him question his general behavior, especially toward his family.
Acting
Guy Kibbee's booming, blinkered bravado.
Writing
Pre-Code dialogue that bites harder than expected.
Director
William Keighley
Aline MacMahon
Myra Babbitt
Guy Kibbee
George F. Babbitt
Claire Dodd
Tanis Judique
Maxine Doyle
Verona Babbitt
Glen Boles
Ted Babbitt
Minor Watson
Paul 'Paulivus' F. Reisling
Minna Gombell
Zilla Reisling
Alan Hale
Charlie McKelvey
Berton Churchill
Judge Virgil 'Verge' Thompson
Russell Hicks
Commissioner Lyle Gurnee
Nan Grey
Eunice Littlefield
Walter Walker
Luke Ethorne
Arthur Aylesworth
Zeke
Addison Richards
District Attorney
Harry Tyler
Martin Gunch
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sinclair Lewis's 1922 novel coined 'Babbitt' as shorthand for smug, conformist middle-class Americans — the insult outlived the book.
This pre-Code version includes material the stricter 1934 Production Code later forced out of adaptations — including George's near-affair and sharper class critique.
US
