For Love or Money (1933)

A schemer and his daughter have lived the high life, but they are out of cash. A last-ditch plan to lure investors goes awry when the electric company shows up to turn off the lights. But the new employee brings hope and something more.

Director:

Zoltan Korda

Writers:

Anthony Gibbs (continuity), Anthony Gibbs (dialogue)

Stars:

Edmund Gwenn, Wendy Barrie, Robert Donat

Cast

Cast overview:
Edmund Gwenn	...	Edmund Gilbert
Wendy Barrie	...	Lilian Gilbert
Robert Donat	...	Paul Martin
Morris Harvey	...	Meyer
Lawrence Grossmith	...	Joseph
Clifford Heatherley	...	Hunt
Hugh E. Wright	...	Jordan
Anthony Holles	...	Inspector

Storyline

Edmund Gilbert and daughter Lilian have lived high on the hog through his wild investment schemes. Now they are in debt to the hilt, and hope to lure one of three big financiers to dinner in one last effort for cash. Their plan seems doomed when the electric company shows up to turn off the lights. But, there's a flicker of hope when the chief company man leaves a green trainee behind to do the job so he can go to the next place. Paul Martin brings more than hope when he finds $100,000 in cash in his valise. The police were pursuing a bank robber who must have put it in Martin's valise on the trolley. Now, much madness with money ensues.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 July 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

For Love or Money

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Edmund Gilbert: The whole thing's a fake, from beginning to end.
Lilian Gilbert: Only the beginning, darling. Not the end.

User Reviews

Suddenly Acquired Fortune

Sad to say that I had to deal with poor sound and botched edited version of For Love Or Money. Otherwise I might have rated this British Depression Era comedy a bit higher.

Before his first international exposure Robert Donat was in three quota quickies which was the British term for B picture. The last of them was this one where he plays a formerly prosperous person now reduced to a job with the London utilities getting people to cough up their electric bills or be turned off. Donat turns other people's electricity off to keep his on.

One fine day on the London underground a fleeing crook drops on him a newspaper filled bank notes in American currency totaling $100,000.00 while he's on the way to turn off Edmund Gwenn's life. Gwenn is an old robber baron type temporarily between fortunes and meeting some investors tonight. It won't due to have the lights off when you're trying to put up a front entertaining guests.

Gwenn and his beautiful daughter Wendy Barrie persuade Donat not to cut off the electric and then when his suddenly acquired fortune is discovered there's a bigger need. I can't say more, but you might keep the later Gregory Peck film made in the United Kingdom Man With A Million in mind. Nothing attracts money more than money and seeing it in cash up close and personal loosens many a purse string.

Still that's hardly the end and there's a kicker in this film that really gives it a last minute oomph.

This film could use some restoration and I'll bet those lost several minutes of this slightly over an hour version I saw.