What Is High Pressure About?
The premise of High Pressure in 307 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a bustling 1930s landscape where fortunes rise and fall on the promise of invention, Gar Evans finds his niche by adopting the role of owner of a newly minted enterprise, the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company. The venture is a sparkling façade built to draw in eager investors, and Gar’s uncanny blend of swagger and superstition fuels his confidence that success hinges on a lucky charm—his long‑suffering girlfriend, whose support feels as fragile as the product they claim to produce. The city’s financial pulse quickens with each whispered rumor of a synthetic rubber that could upend the market, giving Gar a stage for his audacious charade.
Surrounding him is a colorful cadre of characters who both buttress and complicate his scheme. Mike Donahey, a loyal friend convinced the undertaking isn’t a scam, stands by Gar’s side, while a chorus of high‑pressure salesmen spreads the company’s name like wildfire. The office buzzes with the likes of Clifford Gray, a seasoned crony placed in the president’s chair, and Helen Wilson, a diligent secretary who keeps the paperwork humming. Meanwhile, the romance between Gar and Francine Dale flickers with tension, each interaction a delicate dance between personal longing and professional deception. The tone remains brisk and witty, a comedy of errors that thrives on rapid dialogue and the absurdity of a fake invention catching the public’s imagination.
Just as investor interest swells, the gilded illusion faces a pivotal test: prospective backers demand a meeting with the alleged inventor of the miracle rubber. This request threatens to pull Gar out of the comfortable shadows of his manufactured success and thrust him into a precarious performance where improvisation becomes survival. The stakes tighten, the humor sharpens, and the audience is left wondering whether Gar’s charm and quick thinking can sustain the illusion—or whether the pressure of the charade will finally burst.
What Happens in High Pressure?
The complete story of High Pressure, from the first scene to the last, in 361 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Gar Evans [William Powell] agrees to promote Ginsburg’s product, artificial rubber created from sewage, only after his friend Mike Donahey [Frank McHugh] assures him it is not a scam. Gar is superstitious; he believes he will only succeed if his long-suffering girlfriend Francine Dale [Evelyn Brent] joins them on the venture. She, however, has given up on him, especially since he left her five days before to pick up something, and never came back. It is only with great effort that he convinces her to give him another chance.
Gar quickly incorporates the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company, rents a floor of a building, installs old crony Clifford Gray [Guy Kibbee] as president, gives Helen Wilson [Evalyn Knapp] a job as a secretary, and hires a swarm of high-pressure salesmen to sell shares. As news spreads, natural rubber company stock prices start to fall, and Mr. Banks [Charles Middleton] offers to buy the company on behalf of the established rubber firms, but the bid is too low for Gar. Banks then threatens to get an injunction preventing sales of Gar’s shares pending an investigation. Gar welcomes it.
However, Ginsburg (promoted to “Colonel” by Gar) has misplaced the inventor of the process, Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer [Harry Beresford]. When he is finally located and set to work making a sample, Gar invites scientists to inspect the finished product, only to discover that Pfeiffer is a deranged crackpot (his next invention involves hens laying pre-decorated Easter eggs). Francine quits in disgust and prepares to sail to South America and marry Señor Rodriguez. Despite his lawyer’s advice to flee to another state, Gar insists on taking full responsibility.
Just as all seems lost, Banks offers to reimburse all the shareholders and pay Gar enough to make a $100,000 profit just to be rid of the whole mess (and restore natural rubber stock prices). Gar rushes to the dock to retrieve the Golden Gate controlling shares, which he had signed over to Francine. While there, he wins her back by promising to give up promoting, only to have Donahey show up with a scheme for Alaskan gold/marble/spruce wood. Within seconds, Gar is plotting his next campaign.
High Pressure Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Gar agrees to promote artificial rubber venture” to “Gar plots his next campaign”. 2 events name a place, across 2 locations.
- 1
Gar agrees to promote artificial rubber venture
Gar Evans agrees to promote the artificial rubber product only after his friend Mike Donahey assures him it is not a scam. He reveals his superstition that his success depends on his long-suffering girlfriend Francine joining the venture. The setup establishes the central alliance and the personal stakes driving the scheme.
When:early in the plan
- 2
Francine's conditional involvement
Gar learns Francine won't join unless she is convinced. He convinces her to give him another chance after she has given up on him, having left five days earlier to pick up something and never returning.
When:five days after he left
- 3
Formation of Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company
Gar quickly forms the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company, rents a full floor of a building, and installs Clifford Gray as president. He also hires Helen Wilson as secretary and recruits a large team of high-pressure salesmen to market shares.
When:shortly after forming the plan Where:Golden Gate offices
- 4
Stock market reaction to the venture
As news spreads about the venture, natural rubber stock prices begin to fall. The market reaction signals trouble for established firms and fuels Gar's ambitions to disrupt the status quo.
When:as the venture launches
- 5
Banks’ bid and threat of injunction
Mr. Banks offers to buy the company on behalf of the established rubber firms, but his bid is too low for Gar. He then threatens to obtain an injunction preventing sales pending an investigation, a move Gar ironically welcomes.
When:after Banks' bid is proposed
- 6
Ginsburg promoted; inventor goes missing
Ginsburg is promoted to Colonel by Gar, but the inventor Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer goes missing. When Pfeiffer is located, he begins making a sample, setting the stage for a deeper showdown over the product.
When:shortly after the promotion
- 7
Pfeiffer’s sample reveals a crackpot inventor
Pfeiffer is located and begins producing a sample, but it quickly becomes clear he is a deranged crackpot whose inventions include hens laying pre-decorated Easter eggs. The dubious nature of the product threatens to derail the venture.
When:during testing
- 8
Francine quits and plans to sail away
Francine quits in disgust and prepares to sail to South America to marry Señor Rodriguez. Gar ignores legal advice to flee and insists on taking full responsibility for the venture.
When:after the Pfeiffer fiasco
- 9
Banks’ rescue offer
Banks offers to reimburse all shareholders and pay Gar enough to make a $100,000 profit just to be rid of the whole mess and restore stock prices. Gar considers the offer as the clock ticks toward resolution.
When:following the quitting incident
- 10
Dock pursuit of the controlling shares
Gar rushes to the dock to retrieve the Golden Gate controlling shares that he had signed over to Francine. The moment becomes a hinge point in the battle over control and the future of the venture.
When:at the dock Where:the dock
Show the other 3 events of High Pressure Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Gar wins Francine back
Gar wins Francine back by promising to give up promoting the venture. The engagement is momentarily secured, but trouble looms as Donahey arrives with a fresh scheme.
When:at the dock
- 12
Donahey’s Alaska scheme arrives
Donahey shows up with a plan for Alaska involving gold, marble, and spruce wood, signaling Gar's imminent pivot to another get-rich-quick campaign. The scheme foreshadows the next phase of his promotional career.
When:immediately after the reconciliation
- 13
Gar plots his next campaign
Within seconds of reuniting with Francine, Gar is already plotting his next promotional campaign. The cycle of ambition resumes as the story tees up new opportunities and schemes.
When:immediately after
Who Are the Main Characters in High Pressure?
7 characters, among them Gar Evans (William Powell), Francine Dale (Evelyn Brent) and Mike Donahey (Frank McHugh): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Gar Evans (William Powell)
Played by William Powell
Ambitious promoter who believes success requires risk, yet is superstitious and emotionally driven. He doubles down on the artificial rubber scheme and grapples with responsibility as consequences mount, even as he plots his next venture.
- 💼 Ambitious
- 🧠 Calculated
- 🌀 Impulsive
- FD
Francine Dale (Evelyn Brent)
Played by Evelyn Brent
Long-suffering girlfriend who grows wary of Gar's obsession and ultimately steps away, only to be drawn back when he accepts responsibility. She represents pragmatism and a desire for stability in a volatile scheme.
- 💔 Romantic
- 🎯 Independent
- 🫖 Pragmatic
-
Mike Donahey (Frank McHugh)
Played by Frank McHugh
Gar's loyal friend who champions the plan and keeps momentum alive with his own schemes. He embodies camaraderie but also the opportunistic streak that fuels the venture's rapid escalation.
- 🤝 Loyal
- 🗣️ Charismatic
- 💡 Opportunistic
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Clifford Gray (Guy Kibbee)
Played by Guy Kibbee
Gar's crony installed as president to push the venture forward, a schemer who helps craft the corporate façade and revels in potential payoff, illustrating the cutthroat side of business alliances.
- 🕴️ Schemer
- 🏢 Corporate
- 🎯 Ambitious
- HW
Helen Wilson (Evalyn Knapp)
Played by Evalyn Knapp
Secretary recruited to the operation, representing how quickly staff are drawn into high-pressure stock promotions. Her role highlights the personal stakes involved in the scheme.
- 👩💼 Office
- 🗺️ Involvement
- 🔎 Investigator
- DR
Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer (Harry Beresford)
Played by Harry Beresford
Inventor of the artificial rubber process who proves to be a deranged crackpot, a turning point that exposes the fragility of grand schemes built on untested science.
- 🧪 Inventor
- 🌀 Eccentric
- 🔬 Science
- MB
Mr. Banks (Charles Middleton)
Played by Charles Middleton
Rival rubber magnate who tries to derail Gar's venture by offering to buy out the shares, embodying the established industry's efforts to curb reckless experimentation.
- 🏛️ Rival
- 💼 Authority
- ⚖️ Caution
Where and When Is High Pressure Set?
High Pressure is set in San Francisco and California (1930s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1930s
Set in the early 1930s, the story unfolds during a period of rapid industrial ideas and volatile markets. The era's appetite for bold, speculative ventures frames Gar's risky promotion and the ensuing scramble as stock prices react to the scheme and its rocky science.
Where
San Francisco, California
San Francisco serves as the backdrop for Gar Evans's high-stakes stock promotion, with a dockside setting and a rented office floor signaling the ambitious push into artificial rubber. The city's mix of business energy and waterfront activity mirrors the plot's rapid shifts from boardroom hustle to market upheaval.
- 🏙️ City
- 🚢 Waterfront
- 💼 Business district
What Are the Themes of High Pressure?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Greed and Risk, Science and Folly and Trust and Rivalry.
-
01
Greed and Risk
The film centers on a rapid-fire promotion of a dubious invention, showing how the pursuit of profits can cloud judgment and moral responsibility. Gar's optimism collides with real-world consequences as stock prices tumble and legal threats arise.
-
02
Science and Folly
The supposed miracle rubber hinges on an inventor who turns out to be a deranged crackpot, a pivotal twist that exposes the fragility of grand schemes built on shaky science.
-
03
Trust and Rivalry
Friendships, alliances, and rival interests drive the plot, showing how loyalty is tested as investors, colleagues, and competitors maneuver for advantage in a high-stakes venture.
What Kind of Film Is High Pressure?
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A fast-paced comedic romp following a charismatic huckster's high-pressure stock scheme, which navigates near-disasters with a light touch and culminates in a happy romantic resolution and the promise of the next big con.
- fast-talking
- energetic
- scheming
- romantic tension
- comedic
- optimistic
- get-rich-quick scheme
- business swindle
- romantic reconciliation
- prohibition era
Quiz
How well do you remember High Pressure? Test yourself on the story.
