Beg, Borrow or Steal (1937)

In the heart of Paris, we meet the cunningly charismatic Ingraham Steward, a con-man who's crafted a life out of peddling counterfeit paintings to the city's unsuspecting affluent visitors. His estranged wife, Agatha, is the distant beat of his heart, their love story paused for 15 years. Their daughter, Joyce, is the apple of Steward's eye, and he vows to provide an opulent wedding for her at his fictitious "château" in France. Undeterred by the nonexistence of his château, Steward ropes in Bill Cherau, the humble caretaker of a grand country estate, to lend his premises for Joyce's nuptials. The wedding party descends upon the estate, and amidst the whirlwind of preparations, a passionate love blossoms between Joyce and Bill. However, Joyce remains bound to her betrothal with the stiff and formal Horace Miller. In a twist of fate, Steward's heart swerves from his path of deception. He confesses to his guests about his life of fraudulence, revealing that his esteemed friends, Von Gersdorff, Lefevre, Iznamof, Clifton Summitt, and Sasch, are all partners in his array of cons. Horace and his family, taken aback, exit the scene, leaving Joyce free to follow her heart towards Bill, who is still lingering on the estate grounds. In a delightful revelation, it emerges that Bill is not only the legitimate owner of the estate but also a Count, surprising everyone and offering a perfect ending to this tale of romance, intrigue, and deception.

Beg, Borrow or Steal is a comedy movie featuring Frank Morgan and directed by Wilhelm Thiele.

Beg, Borrow or Steal is currently streaming on TCM.