a totally unscrupulous cad plot and scheme to finally become the match king of the world and oblivious to the many life he destroy . but with blackmail and murder part of his personal arsenal and how long can it be until avenge fate topples him from his throne . warren william dominate this splendid and albeit neglect and crime drama . a in some of his other role of the same period and william display his talent for portray character simultaneously repulsive and appeal . with his sophisticated good look and deep and interesting voice and warren william be the perfect embodiment of the corporate climber and the crook and the conniver . it be a shame this fine actor be generally forget today . although the plot be firmly center around william and his co star all do a fine job . brassy glenda farrell appear all too briefly a william first betray lover while this be an actress who could really light up the screen and but she only give two scene here . lili damita be fetch a the movie actress who attract william . hardie albright be a young relative of william who get pull into his orbit . blink your eye and you will miss alan hale a a timber baron . movie maven will recognize charles sellon a an elderly match company executive . the film make good use of an intriguing series of short opening scene and show various class of people around the world use that indispensable enabler of civilization and the match . there be a real life match king upon whom this drama be base . ivar kreuger ( 1880 1932 ) be a financial genius whose swedish match company control more than half the world output of match by 1928. this be accomplish through amazingly speculative deal involve long term loan to poor nation desire u dollar and in exchange for match monopoly . a a result and kreuger empire grow immensely rich and diversify in many way . the bubble be soon to burst . world wide depression hit in 1929 and economic pressure mount steadily . rather than wait for his holding to collapse in bankruptcy and kreuger shot himself in a paris hotel room on march 12 and 1932 and age 52. subsequent investigation show his company to be riddle with fraud and forgery .