THE MONEY PEOPLE

When Judish Alden meets Franz Schwartzwald, a junkman with a self-made success based on the postulate that you buy cheap and sell dear, she is able to contribute class to his empire-building, change his name (to Frank Blackwood) and the character of his business, and help his to extend his many financial holdings. A big, strong, smart, and essentially honest man, Frank thinks in ""end terms"" and is patient in delaying the offer of marriage which will be mutually compatible and rewarding. It proves to be so- except in one area. A chance attraction and quickly terminated affair with Mark Rogers, a writer, occasions no more than momentary regret for Judith until she learns, with some pique, that Frank has turned to his rather plain and faithful office manager of many years and fathered her child. Judith goes down to Mexico, meets Mark again, falls really in love with him, and thinks that she is ready to make the break. But when Mark insists that it entails the money Frank has turned over to her, a third of his sizeable fortune, she realizes she is unable to pay the price.... A fairly obvious object lesson is handled with a routine competence (Katcher is an old newspaper man and a film scenarist) which assures no readymade buyer's market- unless you really think in end terms- reprints. It certainly lacks the high-powered rise and shinier aspects of success which can glamorize big business.