Smart Money (1931)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

Kubec Glasmon (screen story) &
John Bright (screen story) ...

Release Date:

11 July 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Barber | Blonde | Gambling | Poker | Grifter

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

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)

Runtime:

USA:81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Vitaphone

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2308-R, 26 May 1936 for re-release)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

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.

Goofs:

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.

Quotes:

Nick 'The Barber' Venizelos: Well, faint heart never won fair lady... or fat turkey.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in James Cagney: Top of the World (1992) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Auld Lang Syne

Interesting look at the rise of a professional gambler

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.