High Pressure (1932) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An aggressive promoter builds a speculative company, faces exposure and personal loss, then immediately returns to his habitual cycle of promotion.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Chance to Promote

Mike persuades Gar that the artificial rubber product is legitimate. Gar then pressures Francine to rejoin him after abandoning her for five days.

Key Events

• Mike Validates the Product — Mike assures Gar that the sewage-based artificial rubber is not a scam. Characters: Gar Evans, Mike Donahey Location: Unspecified setting
• Gar Seeks Francine's Support — Gar insists he can succeed only with Francine beside him. Characters: Gar Evans, Francine Dale Location: Unspecified setting
• Francine Rejects Gar — Francine recalls Gar leaving for five days and losing faith in him. Characters: Gar Evans, Francine Dale Location: Unspecified setting
• Francine Grants Another Chance — Gar persuades Francine to give both him and the venture another chance. Characters: Gar Evans, Francine Dale Location: Unspecified setting

Building the Golden Gate

Gar incorporates the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company and assigns Clifford and Helen formal roles. He launches an aggressive share-selling campaign that quickly attracts attention.

Key Events

• Company Is Incorporated — Gar incorporates the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company. Characters: Gar Evans, Clifford Gray, Helen Wilson Location: Rented building floor
• Corporate Roles Assigned — Gar installs Clifford as president and hires Helen as secretary. Characters: Gar Evans, Clifford Gray, Helen Wilson Location: Rented building floor
• Sales Campaign Begins — Gar hires high-pressure salesmen to sell company shares. Characters: Gar Evans, Clifford Gray, Helen Wilson Location: Rented building floor
• Rubber Stocks Decline — News of Gar's venture causes natural rubber stock prices to fall. Characters: Gar Evans, Mr. Banks Location: Financial market

The Corporate Challenge

The new venture causes natural rubber stocks to fall, prompting Mr. Banks to offer a buyout. When Gar rejects the price, Banks threatens an injunction and investigation.

Key Events

• Banks Offers A Buyout — Banks offers to buy the company for established rubber firms. Characters: Gar Evans, Mr. Banks Location: Unspecified business setting
• Gar Rejects the Bid — Gar considers Banks's offer too low and refuses to accept it. Characters: Gar Evans, Mr. Banks Location: Unspecified business setting
• Injunction Is Threatened — Banks threatens to block share sales pending an investigation. Characters: Gar Evans, Mr. Banks Location: Unspecified business setting
• Gar Welcomes Investigation — Gar unexpectedly welcomes the threatened legal investigation. Characters: Gar Evans, Mr. Banks Location: Unspecified business setting

The Inventor's Collapse

Gar locates Dr. Pfeiffer and arranges a scientific inspection of the artificial rubber sample. The inspection reveals Pfeiffer's instability, destroying the credibility of the enterprise.

Key Events

• Inventor Is Located — Gar locates Pfeiffer and puts him to work producing a sample. Characters: Gar Evans, Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer Location: Unspecified setting
• Sample Is Produced — Pfeiffer makes a sample for scientific inspection. Characters: Gar Evans, Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer Location: Pfeiffer's work area
• Scientists Inspect the Product — Gar invites scientists to examine the completed artificial rubber. Characters: Gar Evans, Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer Location: Inspection setting
• Pfeiffer Is Exposed — Gar discovers that Pfeiffer is a deranged crackpot. Characters: Gar Evans, Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer Location: Inspection setting
• Francine Quits — Francine leaves the venture in disgust after the product collapse. Characters: Gar Evans, Francine Dale Location: Unspecified setting

Shares, Promises, and Schemes

Francine quits and prepares to leave, while Gar refuses to escape responsibility. Banks offers a settlement, Gar reconciles with Francine at the dock, and Mike immediately introduces another speculative venture.

Key Events

• Francine Quits — Francine leaves the venture in disgust after the product collapse. Characters: Gar Evans, Francine Dale Location: Unspecified setting
• Francine Plans Departure — Francine prepares to sail to South America and marry another man. Characters: Francine Dale Location: Dock
• Gar Rejects Escape — Despite legal advice to flee, Gar insists on taking responsibility. Characters: Gar Evans Location: Unspecified setting
• Banks Offers Settlement — Banks offers to reimburse shareholders and give Gar a $100,000 profit. Characters: Gar Evans, Mr. Banks Location: Unspecified business setting
• Gar Rushes to the Dock — Gar goes to retrieve the controlling shares signed over to Francine. Characters: Gar Evans, Francine Dale Location: Dock
• Gar Wins Francine Back — Gar promises to stop promoting and wins Francine back. Characters: Gar Evans, Francine Dale Location: Dock
• Mike Reveals Another Scheme — Mike arrives with a new Alaskan gold, marble, and spruce wood scheme. Characters: Gar Evans, Mike Donahey Location: Dock
• Gar Starts Plotting Again — Within seconds, Gar begins planning his next promotional campaign. Characters: Gar Evans, Mike Donahey Location: Dock

Story Breakdown

• Dubious Product — Gar commits to promoting artificial rubber after Mike gives him confidence in the scheme.
  • Mike's Assurance — Mike tells Gar that the sewage-based artificial rubber is not a scam.
  • Gar's Commitment — Gar agrees to promote the product.
• Romantic Reconciliation — Gar's superstition makes Francine's participation emotionally essential to his venture.
  • Francine's Resentment — Francine is angry because Gar disappeared for five days.
  • Another Chance — Gar persuades Francine to support him again.
• Company Launch — Gar rapidly creates a corporate structure and starts selling shares.
  • Corporate Offices — Gar rents a whole floor and establishes the company.
  • Assigned Roles — Clifford becomes president and Helen becomes secretary.
  • Share Sales — Gar hires high-pressure salesmen to sell shares.
• Financial Backlash — The promotion disrupts natural rubber stocks and draws opposition from established interests.
  • Falling Stock Prices — Natural rubber company stock prices begin to fall.
  • Banks's Buyout — Mr. Banks offers to purchase the company for established rubber firms.
  • Threatened Injunction — Banks threatens to block share sales during an investigation.
• Inventor Exposed — The product's supposed technical foundation collapses when its inventor is examined.
  • Pfeiffer Located — Gar finds Dr. Pfeiffer and puts him to work.
  • Scientific Inspection — Gar invites scientists to inspect the artificial rubber sample.
  • Crackpot Revelation — Pfeiffer's bizarre behavior destroys confidence in the invention.
• Personal Collapse — The failed venture drives Francine away while Gar chooses responsibility over escape.
  • Francine Quits — Francine leaves the venture in disgust.
  • South American Departure — Francine prepares to sail to South America and marry another man.
  • Gar Stands Firm — Gar refuses advice to flee to another state.
• Dockside Renewal — A settlement and a romantic promise briefly restore stability before another scheme begins.
  • Banks's Settlement — Banks offers to reimburse shareholders and provide Gar a profit.
  • Shares Retrieved — Gar rushes to recover the controlling shares held by Francine.
  • New Promotion — Mike's Alaskan scheme immediately reawakens Gar's ambition.

Directed by

Mervyn LeRoy

Key Cast

• William Powell — Gar Evans
• Evelyn Brent — Francine Dale
• George Sidney — Colonel Ginsburg
• John Wray — Jimmy Moore
• Evalyn Knapp — Helen Wilson