Reducing (1931): Cast & Plot
Reducing is a 1931 comedy directed by Charles Reisner, starring Polly Moran as Polly Roche, Marie Dressler and Lucien Littlefield. It runs 1 hour 17 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 17m (77 min)
- Director
- Charles Reisner
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Reducing About?
The premise of Reducing without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A woman and her family leave their small, rural hometown to assist her sister’s bustling city beauty salon. As they adjust to urban life, they confront culture shock, the pressures of new expectations, and the struggle to keep their values intact while chasing elusive dreams. The film mixes humor with a search for identity amid chaotic change.
Reducing Themes & Keywords
· 21 tags- dressler and moran
- beauty parlor
- sister
- romantic rivalry
- pullman berth
- jealousy
- thanksgiving day
- pregnancy
- new york city
- postal worker
- marriage
- city country contrast
+9 more Show fewer
- socialite
- mother daughter relationship
- firearm
- poverty
- south bend indiana
- cousin cousin relationship
- playboy
- train
- snobbery
Reducing Cast & Characters
Polly Moran leads the cast as Polly Roche, with Marie Dressler as Marie Truffle and Lucien Littlefield as Elmer Truffle. Directed by Charles Reisner; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Charles Reisner
- Polly Moran as Polly Roche
- Marie Dressler as Marie Truffle
- Lucien Littlefield as Elmer Truffle
- Anita Page as Vivian Truffle
Also Starring in Reducing
· 11 more- Jay Ward Marty Truffle
- Billy Naylor Jerry Truffle
- Sally Eilers Joyce Roche
- William Collier Jr. Johnnie Beasley
- William Bakewell Tommy Haverly
- Sidney Bracey Beasley's Butler
- Herbert Prior Man on Ticket Line in a Hurry
- Roscoe Ates Ticket Agent
- George H. Reed Train Porter
- Bobby Dunn Train Station Extra
- Jules Cowles Man on Train with Big Mustache (uncredited)
Reducing Plot Summary
What happens in Reducing from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In New York City, the snobbish Madame Polly Rochay runs an exclusive beauty parlor that specializes in weight reduction. When she learns that her sister, Marie Truffle, is destitute, Polly Rochay decides to bring Elmer Truffle and their three children—Vivian Truffle, Jerry Truffle, and Marty Truffle—from South Bend, Indiana, to live with them in the city. Joyce Roche, Polly’s socialite daughter, objects to this intrusion, arguing that the Truffles are too unrefined to join the Rochays. Yet Polly believes in family loyalty, and stubbornly welcomes the clan into their upscale home.
Full summary
The whole story of Reducing, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Reducing?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who runs the exclusive weight‑reduction beauty parlor in New York City?
Cars in Reducing
3 cars on screen, including the 1929 Cadillac Series 341-B and the unknown.
-
1929 Cadillac Series 341-B Important role -
unknown Important role -
unknown Minor role
Seen Reducing?
Movies Like Reducing
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Red Doors, Red-Headed Woman and Red Flag.
Reducing FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Reducing, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Reducing?
Reducing runs 1 hour 17 minutes (77 minutes).
When was Reducing released?
Reducing was released on January 3, 1931.
Who directed Reducing?
Reducing was directed by Charles Reisner.
More films by Charles Reisner Who is in the cast of Reducing?
Reducing stars Polly Moran as Polly Roche, Marie Dressler as Marie Truffle and Lucien Littlefield as Elmer Truffle, among 15 credited actors.
Does Reducing have a post-credit scene?
No. Reducing has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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