Richie Rich (film) (Johnsonverse)

thumb Richie Rich is a 1977 American comedy-drama film directed by Sheldon Johnson, based on the comic book series of the same name produced by Harvey Comics. It stars Eli Nelson as the title character, Melissa Gilbert, Robert Downey, Jr., John Cleese, Rene Auberjonois, Florence Henderson, William Shatner, and Robert Loggia. The film follows Richie, who must get his parents' fortune back after it was lost in an elaborate heist conducted by real estate mogul Lawrence Van Dough and his son Reggie.

The film was released by Johnson Studios on December 20, 1977, and was praised for its adherence to the comics, as well as its acting, direction and effects. Auberjonois would reprise the role of Richard in the animated series from its 1993 debut until his death in 2019.

Plot
Richie Rich (Eli Nelson) is a 12-year-old boy. He is the heir to the Rich fortune and the only son of Richard (Rene Auberjonois) and Regina Rich (Florence Henderson). He has a girlfriend, Gloria Glad (Melissa Gilbert), and best friends in Freckles (Sheldon Johnson, Jr.) and Pee-Wee Friendly (Jay Nelson), as well as another friend named Mayda Munny (Melissa Sue Anderson), who wants to steal Richie's heart from Gloria. His rival in school is his snobby cousin Reggie Van Dough (Robert Downey, Jr.).

One night, Reggie and his father Lawrence (William Shatner) come to the Rich mansion. They meet Cadbury (John Cleese), Irona, Chef Pierre, Professor Keenbean, and Bascomb. While this happens, large trucks head to the Rich vaults, and several people come out to blow up the vault doors and steal all their contents; money, gold coins, jewelry, as well as deeds to every piece of real estate the Rich family owns. After Lawrence and Reggie leave, Richard comes to check on the vaults, only to find that there was nothing inside, except a little note inside the first saying, "Remember, Rich, I said I'll do anything to expand my fortune. Signed, Lawrence Van Dough.". The next day, the IRS comes to repossess Richard's house, and several repo men come to repossess every piece of furniture in the house. Crestfallen, Richard and the family move to a run-down apartment in Los Agradable, an ironically-named, gang-ridden town directly next to Richville.

Richie, however, is determined to reclaim the Rich family fortune. He gathers his friends (who are still in Richville) and reveals his plan. While Gloria and others are hopeful this will succeed, Mayda demands that her plan be used, in which she will save Richie from an explosion. She and Gloria argue over this until Richie stops it by screeching his nails on a chalkboard, and assigns everyone; Freckles and Pee-Wee to keep the guards distracted, Gloria to

Music
The music score was done by Cal Johnson and the Johnson Philharmonic Orchestra.