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Smart Money (1931)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
11 July 1931 (USA) morePlot:
Immigrant Greek barber has uncommon skills in playing poker and soon rises in the seedy world of illegal gambling, but pretty blondes remain his Achilles' heel. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Oscar. moreUser Comments:
Interesting look at the rise of a professional gambler moreCast
(Complete credited cast)| Edward G. Robinson | ... | Nick 'The Barber' Venizelos | |
| James Cagney | ... | Jack | |
| Margaret Livingston | ... | Irene Graham | |
| Ralf Harolde | ... | Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short | |
| Noel Francis | ... | Marie (Sleepy Sam's girl) | |
| Evalyn Knapp | ... | District Attorney's girl | |
| Maurice Black | ... | Greek barber | |
| Billy House | ... | Irontown salesman-gambler (as William House) | |
| Paul Porcasi | ... | Alexander Amenoppopolus | |
| Gladys Lloyd | ... | Second cigar stand clerk | |
| Polly Walters | ... | Lola (manicurist) |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
USA:81 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
VitaphoneCertification:
USA:Approved (PCA #2308-R, 26 May 1936 for re-release)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Despite both Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney having spent most of their acting careers with Warner's Bros., this was the only film the two acting legends appeared in together. moreGoofs:
Factual errors: According to video commentators Ursini and Silver, Robinson starred as Luis Pasteur, a role that was played by Paul Muni. Also they credit "Scarface" as a Universal picture. It was actually a Caddo Picture released by United Artists. moreSoundtrack:
Auld Lang Syne moreFAQ
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Smart Money (1931)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| what an entrance! | jdickson05 |
| I LOVE THIS MOVIE | francisbt2003 |
| Boris Karloff and Charles Lane | west1800john |
| DVD Release-- March 25, 2008 | dnscal |
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Warners was still hampered by early talkie production values - camera hardly moves, people hardly move - somewhat stagey. (Amazing that only a year later in 1932 with THE STAR WITNESS the studio had found its "noir look and pace." ) SMART MONEY is the tale of a lucky barber who is staked by his cronies to play big time in the city. He is scammed and returns empty-handed, but wiser. Returning with a new stake, he scams the scammers, makes a fortune and rises to gambling heights, owning his own casino. His one weakness, blondes. And that's how he's done in by his enemies. Rather Greek in a way- the fatal flaw in character and all. Robinson plays Nick as a really nice guy all the way through- we genuinely like him and want him to succeed even though it's at gambling. He is decent to women, ruthless with his enemies. The original story was nominated for an Oscar. Slow moving at times but generally likeable. NOTE: The obviously homoerotic relationship between friends Robinson and James Cagney (in their only film together) is incredibly apparent. Cagney and Robinson live together, sleep together it would seem and Cagney hates dames. Robinson has a weakness for blondes (Cagney's a blonde). All very hidden for its time but the affectionate physical intimacies between the two are pretty obvious.