Smart Money (1931)

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
Evalyn Knapp	...	Irene Graham
Ralf Harolde	...	Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short
Noel Francis	...	Marie (Sleepy Sam's girl)
Margaret Livingston	...	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:

The role played by Donald Cook was all but eliminated in the final cut, but he still appears as one of Nick's two accomplices (along with 'James Cagney' after one of the poker games.

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:

Dist. Atty. Black: If you were the D.A., how would you tackle him?
Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short: I'd shoot him some night when he was trying to escape from the law.
Dist. Atty. Black: Don't be silly! Thaat isn't done!
Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short: Well, you know his weakness, don't you?
Dist. Atty. Black: What?
Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short: Heh, he's nuts for blondes. Yeah, send your wife around.
[as he exits the door]
Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short: He'll go for any old bag!

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Auld Lang Syne

A Historic Screen Teaming

Smart Money is famous for the teaming of Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney in the only time they shared the screen. Both men had just come off their breakthrough performances in Little Caesar and Public Enemy respectively. Of the two of them, Robinson comes off far the better.

I'm not sure why Cagney did this film, more than likely because he was told to and was not yet rebelling against Jack Warner. He's strangely subdued in the part, the usual Cagney bounce and cockiness just isn't there for me.

Cagney plays the best friend of Greek barber Edward G. Robinson who in his career played any number of ethnic types. Here he's a happy go lucky barber whose place doubles as a betting establishment. He likes to play, but when friends raise a bankroll for him to try his luck in the big city he gets good and clipped.

Robinson's down, but not out. He goes back and clips the clippers and becomes a big gambling racketeer. Problems do arise when he and Cagney quarrel over the same woman.

It's definitely Robinson's picture, maybe it's why Cagney and he never worked together again. I would like to have seen them both in a film with a more typical Jimmy Cagney.

Still when it's broadcast it should not be missed.