Reducing 1931

Comedy

Runtime

77 mins

Language

English

Made by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Test your knowledge of Reducing with our quiz!

Reducing Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Reducing (1931). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

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.

As the Truffles settle in, Polly puts Marie Truffle to work at the salon, while Elmer hunts for a steady job as a mail carrier. Joyce resents the presence of the ill-mannered kin, and Polly finds herself taking sides with her daughter when the meddlesome Marie Truffle causes trouble—one mishap even results in Polly getting locked inside the steam room, a moment that heightens the tension between rival families. The sisters’ quarrel spills over to their daughters, and Polly bluntly demeans Vivian’s prospects, claiming that she’ll never meet the same caliber of men Joyce does. The air grows thick with snobbery and sarcasm as the two households clash over class, manners, and romance.

The situation intensifies when Joyce goes out on a date with her sophisticated, playboy sweetheart, Johnnie Beasley. Polly Rochay boasts that Johnnie is the superior catch, while Marie Truffle counters that Vivian Truffle is dating someone from “one of the oldest families in South Bend.” Johnnie and Joyce’s evening together ends with Vivian meeting Johnnie and making an immediate impression on him, stirring jealousy in Joyce. The next day, Vivian calmly accepts a lunch date with Johnnie, hoping Joyce will be there too.

Meanwhile, Marie Truffle stirs the pot through a string of small missteps in the salon, and the brewing feud between the cousins reaches a breaking point. After spurning Tommy Haverly—Vivian’s own beau from South Bend—Vivian continues to pursue Johnnie, and Joyce’s suspicions about her sister’s influence grow stronger. The simmering tension finally boils over when Marie’s interference pushes Joyce to the brink, and Polly confronts the reality that her pride may be blinding her to her daughter’s happiness.

Three months pass, and the Truffles have carved out a life of their own, while Johnnie has been dating Vivian and will escort her to a party. On the night of Vivian and Johnnie’s date, Joyce seeks Marie’s help, admitting she’s in “terrible trouble” and hoping for a way out of the mess her family has created. Moved by the imploring plea, Marie agrees to step in. She goes to Johnnie’s place to confront him, armed with a Civil War revolver that, as she quips, “hasn’t worked since Bull Run.”

hasn’t worked since Bull Run

At Johnnie’s, Vivian flees as Johnnie and her mother’s footsteps approach the door. Marie enters and accuses the young playboy of turning Joyce’s head with luxury and status, then claims that she’s not worthy of Joyce’s love and that Johnnie should marry her niece instead. Johnnie, who admits his actions might offend Joyce’s father, agrees to marry Marie’s niece. He declares his intentions, but the confession leaves Joyce heartbroken—yet the wedding between Joyce and Johnnie becomes a turning point, a moment of reckoning for both families.

Polly, initially unaware of Marie’s orchestration, phones to celebrate Joyce’s marriage and to remind Marie that Vivian should have “stayed in her own class.” Yet Joyce, desiring reconciliation between her mother and aunt, reveals everything and explains Marie’s involvement. The revelation softens Polly’s posture, and she visits her sister to express gratitude, ultimately forgiving Marie. In the end, the families find a fragile, but hopeful, harmony, proving that love and forgiveness can bridge even the widest social divides.

Reducing Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Reducing (1931) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Polly invites the Truffles to New York

Polly Rochay, owner of an exclusive New York beauty parlor, learns that her sister Marie Truffle is destitute. She decides to bring Marie, her husband Elmer, and their three children—Vivian, Jerry, and Marty—from South Bend to live with the Rochays. Joyce objects to the plan, insisting the Truffles are too unrefined to join their social circle.

Early in the film New York City (Polly's home and salon)

The Truffles settle in and spark tension

Marie begins working at Polly's salon while Elmer searches for a job as a mail carrier. The intrusion irks Joyce, and Polly sides with Joyce when Marie damages the beauty parlor and Polly's car is scratched. The clash foreshadows the coming family feud.

Shortly after arrival Polly's salon, New York City

Dueling views on love and status

Polly and Marie compare their daughters' boyfriends, boasting about Johnnie's sophistication versus Vivian's boyfriend Tommy Haverly's old-family background. Polly belittles Marie by suggesting Vivian will never meet Joyce's social caliber. The conversation deepens the class-based tension between the families.

Evening Salon

Johnnie meets Vivian; Joyce grows jealous

When Johnnie brings Joyce home, he meets Vivian and takes an immediate liking to her. Joyce watches with envy as her former lover shows interest in another woman, foreshadowing trouble ahead. The seed of romantic rivalry is planted.

Evening Polly's home/salon

Lunch date and accusations of stealing a boyfriend

The next day, Vivian accepts a lunch date with Johnnie, hoping Joyce will also be there. Joyce accuses Vivian of trying to steal her boyfriend, intensifying the sisters' feud. The social circle is ripe for further drama.

Next day, daytime New York City (restaurant)

Salon chaos and the fallout

At the salon, Marie creates a nuisance by mismanaging tasks, and Polly is even locked in a steam room by accident. The sisters quarrel over Johnnie, and Marie strikes Joyce when Joyce insults Vivian. Polly then tells the Truffles to leave the Rochay household.

That day Polly's salon

Three months pass; awaiting Johnnie's arrival

Three months pass. The Truffles have settled into their own home, and Vivian waits for Johnnie to arrive so he can escort her to a party. The social calendar continues despite the earlier upheaval.

Three months later Truffles' new home, New York City

Joyce seeks help from Marie

Joyce visits Marie and begs her aunt to help her in what she calls terrible trouble. Moved by her plea, Marie agrees to assist Joyce, signaling a shift in loyalties as the aunt takes an active role. The plan unfolds behind the scenes.

Evening Marie's home

Marie confronts Johnnie with a loaded revolver

Marie goes to Johnnie's home armed with a Civil War revolver that hasn't worked since Bull Run. She confronts him about his influence over Joyce and demands that he consider marriage to her niece. The confrontation reaches a dramatic, dangerous peak.

Evening Johnnie's residence

Johnnie's arrangement and Joyce's heartbreak

Johnnie agrees to marry Marie's niece, explaining that his father would label him a rotter if he knew what he'd done to Joyce. He concedes after acknowledging Joyce's heartbreak and the consequences of his actions. The plan reveals a calculated maneuver behind the romance.

Evening Johnnie's residence

Marie deceives Joyce about Johnnie

Marie lies to Joyce, telling her that Johnnie was not worthy of her love because he was merely courting Joyce to provoke Vivian's jealousy. The deception deepens Joyce's confusion and widens the rift with Polly. The truth remains buried for the moment.

Shortly after confrontation Joyce's home

Joyce and Johnnie wed; Polly gloats unknowingly

Joyce and Johnnie marry, a result of Marie's schemes. Polly, unaware of Marie's role, phones Marie to boast about the wedding and taunt that Vivian should have stayed in her own class. The victory is hollow for the Rochays as the truth lingers.

After the wedding Wedding location / Johnnie's home

Joyce reveals Marie's involvement; reconciliation nears

Joyce eventually confesses to Polly the full extent of Marie's meddling and involvement. The revelation prompts the sisters to reconsider their relationship and begin mending the rift that divided them. The family starts moving toward reconciliation.

Soon after the wedding Polly's home

Polly and Marie forgive one another

Polly visits Marie to thank her for helping Joyce, and the sisters forgive one another. The two women set aside their feud and the Rochay-Truffle household settles back into harmony. The film closes on a note of renewed family ties.

After the confrontation Marie's home

Reducing Characters

Explore all characters from Reducing (1931). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Polly Roche (Polly Moran)

Snobbish, sharp-tongued owner of an exclusive New York City beauty parlor who specializes in weight reduction. She seeks to keep her social circle intact while navigating a sudden invasion of her sister's family.

🎭 Drama 🏙️ City Life 💅 Beauty Industry

Marie Truffle (Marie Dressler)

Vivacious aunt who schemes to reunite her niece Joyce with a wealthy suitor. She is outspoken and cunning, orchestrating events to reconcile the family while exposing pretensions.

🎭 Drama 🧭 Scheming ❤️ Family

Joyce Roche (Sally Eilers)

Polly’s socialite daughter, quick to jealousy over the Truffles and anxious about losing status. She longs for romance but is easily swayed by appearances and rivals.

💃 Romance 🧪 Jealousy 🏷️ Class Mobility

Johnnie Beasley (William Collier Jr)

Vivian’s suitor and a playboy whose wealth and charm complicate the sisters’ dynamic. His choices spark jealousy and rearrange relationships.

💼 Romance 💎 Wealth 🎩 Playboys

Vivian Truffle (Anita Page)

A young woman navigating romance with Johnnie while weighing family expectations and social climbing. She embodies youthful optimism amid family tension.

💃 Romance 🌟 Youth 🏷️ Class Mobility

Reducing Settings

Learn where and when Reducing (1931) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1920s

Set in the Jazz Age, the narrative borrows from contemporary urban wealth, flamboyant social events, and the era’s fascination with appearances. The story centers on salons, parties, and matchmaking schemes typical of the period. The move from Indiana to New York underscores the era’s mobility and the pursuit of status.

Location

New York City, South Bend, Indiana

The story unfolds across two main settings: South Bend, Indiana, where the Truffle family lives humbly, and New York City, where Polly’s exclusive beauty parlor serves the city’s upper crust. The salon acts as a social stage for glamour, vanity, and rivalry, while the family’s move to the big city exposes them to fashion, prestige, and urban sophistication. The contrasting environments highlight class tensions and the pull between provincial manners and metropolitan life.

🌆 City Life 💎 High Society 💇 Beauty Salon

Reducing Themes

Discover the main themes in Reducing (1931). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🤝

Family & Reconciliation

A central thread follows the Truffle and Rochay families as pride, vanity, and misunderstandings threaten harmony. Despite clashes over class and manners, the narrative resolves through confession, generosity, and a return to familial ties.

💎

Social Class & Snobbery

Polly’s insistence on refinement pits her against the Truffles' more down-to-earth values. The pursuit of suitable matches and status drives key plot points, including matchmaking and the implied critique of aristocratic pretensions.

💘

Romance & Jealousy

Romantic rivalries fuel the drama: Johnnie Beasley’s affections clash with Joyce’s pride and Vivian’s prospects. The story delves into desire, loyalty, and the ways love destabilizes social hierarchies.

🎭

Comedy in Conflict

Farce and misunderstandings punctuate the plot: mishaps at the salon, a dramatic confrontation with a revolver joke, and the eventual reconciliation. The humor arises from character flaws reacting under pressure.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore the mobile app

Reducing Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Reducing (1931). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the heart of New York City, a bustling beauty salon that specializes in weight‑reduction serves as the unlikely stage for a story of sudden migration. A family accustomed to the quiet rhythms of a small Midwestern town is whisked into this glittering urban arena, where high‑priced cosmetics and sophisticated clientele clash with the straightforward values they left behind. The film balances the clamor of the city with moments of quiet reflection, hinting that the true transformation may be less about bodies and more about identity.

At the center of the move is Polly Rochay, a sharply‑tuned matriarch who runs the exclusive parlor with an iron‑clad sense of style. When she discovers that her sister Marie Truffle has fallen on hard times, Polly offers refuge, bringing Elmer Truffle and his three children to share the upscale apartment above the salon. The Truffle clan arrives with rough‑hewn manners and a sturdy work ethic, instantly highlighting the cultural divide between polished Manhattan and humble Indiana roots. Their presence promises both comic friction and heartfelt moments as each tries to retain a sense of self amid the swirl of new expectations.

The tension sharpens with the arrival of Joyce Roche, Polly’s cultured daughter who views the newcomers through a lens of social propriety. Joyce’s world of glamor and elite social circles collides with the Truffles’ unrefined charm, setting the stage for a playful battle of wits and values. Adding another layer, Johnnie Beasley—a charismatic, well‑heeled playboy—drifts through the mix, stirring subtle rivalries and hinting at romantic entanglements that could further test both families’ loyalties.

Through bright dialogue and a lively soundtrack, the movie paints a portrait of a family navigating the chaos of city life while searching for a place where their old values can coexist with new ambitions. It blends humor with a gentle exploration of class, belonging, and the ever‑present question of how far one can stretch without losing the core of who they are.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

Movies with Similar Twists and Themes

Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.