De kribbebijter

Summary

Romantic comedy about a secretary and the disinherited son of a baron.

In De kribbebijter, Willy, the son of a baron, sets his sights on an untitled girl. He marries her in spite of his extremely curmudgeonly father who promptly disinherits him. Willy finds a job but looses it again as a result of his father's machinations. Willy's wife decides to take action and applies for the job of housekeeper in the baron's household. Helped by her sister-and-law and the baron's brother, she earns the respect of her father-in-law who is then reconciled with his lost son and daughter-in-law.

Stage actress Mary Dresselhuys was asked to audition for the leading part but did not get it. Producer Rudolf Meyer and director Henry Koster didn't think she was photogenic enough: "Leider gnädige Frau, sind Sie nich zu fotografieren.' (I'm sorry madam, but you are impossible to photograph). She was offered a minor part, as a consolation prize.

The public loved the film, which starred famous actors like Frits van Dongen, Dresselhuys, Cor Ruys and Sien de la Mar. The critics had nothing but praise for actors and director alike. The film was seen as an important departure from the popular but essentially farcical Jordaan films.