Torture Money (1937)

Police go after a fraud operation that stages automobile accidents to collect insurance money.

Director:

Harold S. Bucquet

Writers:

John C. Higgins (story), John C. Higgins (screenplay)

Stars:

Edwin Maxwell, George Lynn, Murray Alper

Won 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edwin Maxwell	...	Milton Beacher
George Lynn	...	Larry Martin

Storyline

Dramatizes elaborate insurance scams, involving drivers, victims, and witnesses who stage accidents under the direction of an attorney who then files suit and settles out of court. The operation is easy to move from one city or state to another. The police and DA get wise and a cop goes undercover, first pretending to be in a coma in the hospital room of one of the "accident victim," then working as an orderly with a police record. The gang enlists him, he draws the short straw, and he's sent into a doctor's office to get his pre-accident injuries. Dangerous work. Will it succeed without serous injury?

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Plot Keywords:

police | automobile accident | hospital room | hospital | undercover cop | 

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Genres:

Short | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 January 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Crime Does Not Pay Subject: Torture Money

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

21 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Sing, Sing, Sing"
Written by Louis Prima
Performed by orchestra (aired on radio)

User Reviews

Predictable film in the "Crime Does Not Pay" Series

This is a predictable film in the Crime Does Not Pay series produced by MGM during the gangster era. It deals with insurance scams, and the word "torture" in the title is not very descriptive. The movie won an Oscar for best 2-reel short, and it is one of the better shorts in the MGM series. Still, I only gave it a 7 because it doesn't really stand out in any way.