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The Pay Off (1942)
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Overview
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Release Date:
24 November 1942 (USA)
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Tagline:
AN AIR-TIGHT ALIB? He thought he had an air-tight alibi...but a fast-talking newshawk punched holes in it! See more »
Plot:
The city's District Attorney is murdered, and a newspaper reporter investigates. He starts finding out that everything wasn't quite as cut and dried as it appeared to be. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
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User Reviews:
Didn't Lee Tracy invent the fast-talking newspaper reporter character?
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Cast
(in credits order) | Lee Tracy | ... | Brad McKay |
| Tom Brown | ... | Guy Norris |
| Tina Thayer | ... | Phyllis Walker |
 | Evelyn Brent | ... | Alma Dorn |
| Jack La Rue | ... | John Angus |
| Ian Keith | ... | Inspector Thomas |
| Robert Middlemass | ... | Lester Norris |
| John Maxwell | ... | Moroni |
| John Sheehan | ... | Sergeant Brenen |
| Harry C. Bradley | ... | Dr. Steele (as Harry Bradley) |
| Forrest Taylor | ... | Hugh Walker |
| Pat Costello | ... | Pat--Reporter |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Roy Butler | ... | Desk Clerk / Henchman (uncredited) |
| Bill Hunter | ... | Night Club Bouncer (uncredited) |
| Sheldon Jett | ... | Cashier (uncredited) |
| Carl M. Leviness | ... | Typist (uncredited) |
| Tony Martelli | ... | Croupier (uncredited) |
| Merrill McCormick | ... | Detective (uncredited) |
| 'Snub' Pollard | ... | Stubby--Cab Driver (uncredited) |
| Arthur Thalasso | ... | Police Officer (uncredited) |
| Herb Vigran | ... | Reporter (uncredited) |
Directed by | |||
| Arthur Dreifuss | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Edward Dein | (screenplay) | |
| Arthur Hoerl | (original story) | |
Produced by | |||
| Harry D. Edwards | .... | associate producer | |
| Jack Schwarz | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Charles Dant | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Ira H. Morgan | (director of photography) (as Ira Morgan) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Charles Henkel Jr. | |||
Production Management | |||
| Leon Fromkess | .... | executive in charge of production | |
| Arthur Hammond | .... | production manager | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Eddie Davis | .... | assistant director (as Edward M. Davis) | |
Sound Department | |||
| Ben Winkler | .... | sound engineer | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Eugene Joseff | .... | costume jeweller (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| Charles Dant | .... | conductor | |
Other crew | |||
| Edward Dein | .... | dialogue director | |
Production CompaniesDistributors
- Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) (1942) (USA) (theatrical)
- Madison Pictures (1948) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
- LS Video (2007) (USA) (video)
- Reel Media International (2008) (worldwide) (theatrical)
Additional Details
Also Known As:
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
74 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Certification:
USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Approved (PCA #8931)
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An 
company.
Lee Tracy pretty easily carries the show in this fast-moving drama featuring fast talking and a set of familiar supporting characters ranging from the cub reporter to the police inspector needing help to the shady club owner to the girl whose father is in trouble. Evelyn Brent is the one other somewhat interesting character—as the wise female on the wrong side of the law, she's a challenge for Tracy to try and pull over to his side.
Tom Brown is the publisher's son who doubles as the cub reporter trying to learn the business; he's not particularly exciting but eager and fresh-faced and he does throw one punch. Tina Thayer as the daughter of the missing suspect doesn't have much to do and isn't given much to say, but she wears a worried look the best she can. Many other familiar faces populate the rest of the cast—the usual assortment of cops, crooks and reporters.
Oh, the plot? It's fairly complex, actually, having to do with a murdered special prosecutor investigating corruption and a $100,000 payoff that gets chased around for most of the picture.
The script is full of snappy dialog, some of it having to do with the plot, some just clever filler (Brown asks Tracy what they're going to do now, to which Tracy responds, "Slight pause for station identification."). Tracy also tells Brent in the first moments after their meeting, "After one drink, I propose," which adds a little nicely-calculated tension to their future encounters.
Worth a look for those of us who like rapid-fire dialog and don't mind a few clinkers or clichés.