Sucker List (1941)

Mr. Brown and his racketeer buddies, calling their company "Best Selections", come up with a scheme to bilk those already seemingly desperate for money of what little they have. The scheme ... See full summary »

Director:

Roy Rowland

Writers:

Samuel H. Chain (story), Alan Friedman (story),

Stars:

Lynne Carver, Noel Madison, John Archer

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lynne Carver	...	Mary Allen
Noel Madison	...	Mr. Brown, Chief Racketeer
John Archer	...	William 'Bill' Allen
George Cleveland	...	Old Man Not Beaten Up

Storyline

Mr. Brown and his racketeer buddies, calling their company "Best Selections", come up with a scheme to bilk those already seemingly desperate for money of what little they have. The scheme has two main components: they print and circulate a list of horse racing winners making it look like they've predicted the winners, and they, with a list of bank loan applicants in hand, telephone these people telling them of a sure bet. Seeing after the fact in the racing forms that the sure bet did in fact win the races, these loan applicants, desperate for money, will then go to the Best Selections office to make a subsequent bet through their bookies, who in reality are fakes. Mr. Brown's associates give them a name of a horse certain to lose, and the bet is made with the fake bookie. One of those targeted is Bill Allen, who can't afford the medical bills racking up for his pregnant wife, Mary Allen. Another victim is Charles Adams, a mechanic who just wants to make a little money. Charles' ...

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Plot Keywords:

crime does not pay series | debt | manslaughter | beating | racketeer | 

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Genres:

Crime | Short | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 July 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Crime Does Not Pay No. 36: Sucker List

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

19 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Crime Does Not Pay

Sucker List (1941)

*** (out of 4)

This isn't the greatest entry in MGM's Crime Does Not Pay series but it's still an entertaining one for fans of the series. Once again we're told that the MGM Crime Reporter is trying to bring down a racket that is causing millions of people money and a few their lives. It deals with people who pass out fake tips who hope people in debt will contact them for future tips. Of course, this is all meant to put money into the bad guys pockets as they trap people and this short shows what happens when a husband (John Archer) with a sick wife (Lynne Carver) takes the bad tip and threatens to go to the police. This has always been my favorite shorts series and this is due to how simple the stories usually were and how the studio (in their own way) tried telling people what bad things to try and avoid. Some people call these shorts over-dramatic and perhaps they are but it was just their way of hammering home stuff that many people fell victim to. This short here is a pretty good one even if the screenplay has a few weak spots including the fact that many of these victims probably shouldn't have been doing what they were. If they simply weren't trying to double and triple their money then they wouldn't have been scammed but that's just a minor thing. For the most part the film is well acted and the director by Roy Rowland hits all the right notes. Archer is pretty good in his role as is Noel Madison as the main bad guy. Look quick for Mickey Rooney's rather in a quick bit as well. While this certainly isn't the best film in the series, there's enough going on to make it worth viewing.