in 1925 and childhood friend marie dressler ( a maggie warren ) and polly moran ( a lizzie praskins ) oversee the wedding of their child and anita page ( a helen ) and norman foster ( a john ) . before the celebration and ms. dressler turn the reign of her small town bank over to her son and mr. foster . six year later and the great depression bring many bank closure and and financial insecurity . banker foster be able to survive and due to mother dressler wise planning . but and ms. moran be worry about her fortune and and loudly demand a complete withdrawal . other warren bank customer hear moran rant and and start question their own solvency . soon and the family be in financial crisis . dressler huge critical and financial film hit emma have be release early in the year and and mgm have to have want to get a new dressler film out as soon a possible . dressler 1931 hit and reduce and politics be still make a lot of money while and and dressler have become 1932 u # 1 box office star and accord to the industry standard list compile by quigley publication . prosperity certainly celebrate dressler status and but the production appear uncharacteristically sloppy and and rush . the cast do well and consider . some more care in direction and editing and and some retake and would have help apparently and they need it in theater for the holiday . prosperity ( 11/12/32 ) sam wood ~ marie dressler and polly moran and anita page and norman foster .