I'd Rather Be Rich is a 1964 American romantic comedy film with musical aspects directed by Jack Smight, produced by Ross Hunter and starring Sandra Dee.

We first meet Cynthia Dulaine (Sandra Dee) sitting at a nightclub table while Warren Palmer (Andy Williams) croons to her "It Had To Be You".

Realizing that Philip will die a happier man if he can meet her fiancé, Cynthia approaches a stranger and asks if he would pose as Warren for an introduction to her grandfather.

This man is Paul Benton (Robert Goulet), who has invented a heat-proof paint and desperately wants an audience with Philip Dulaine whose company has a contract with NASA.

So, Benton agrees and the ruse is pulled off very successfully with Philip favorably impressed by the young man he believes to be Cynthia's fiancé.

Philip tells the "couple" that Dulaine Enterprises is in danger of a hostile take-over and implores Cynthia to meet with the board to try to save the company.

Throughout the rest of the film, he and his nurse (Hermione Gingold) perform a comical cat and mouse game - she trying to stop him from smoking the many cigars he has hidden around the mansion.

But then Philip learns all about the ruse when he overhears Cynthia tell Benton that his presence is no longer required since the real Warren Palmer is arriving that afternoon.

Meanwhile, Benton realizes he's fallen for Cynthia, so he manages to hamper some late night amorous activity between the engaged couple and also boobie-traps a romantic getaway they go off on together.

Finally Philip tells Cynthia that he is no longer dying and that her recent foot problems, just like her grandmother's condition, signifies which of the two men she truly loves.

Producer Ross Hunter, who had enjoyed a great deal of success remaking movies from the 1930s and 1940s, announced the project in January 1963.

How could I, as a novice to film, turn down a first feature picture" although he says at the back of his mind he felt "Outside of Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold, there wasn’t a real actor amongst the whole cast.” However his "realistic judgement told me that this was a shot at the big screen and I should take it.

[9] The Los Angeles Times praised the "strong cast" but said the script "lacks inspiration" and said "so little use is made of so many famous singing voices.