The Money Trap (1965)

When half a million dollars disappears from a doctor office's safe, the cops assigned to the burglary case, Joe and Pete, decide to find the money and keep it for themselves.

Director:

Burt Kennedy

Writers:

Walter Bernstein (screen play by), Lionel White (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Glenn Ford, Elke Sommer, Rita Hayworth

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Glenn Ford	...	Joe Baron
Elke Sommer	...	Lisa Baron
Rita Hayworth	...	Rosalie Kenny
Joseph Cotten	...	Dr. Horace Van Tilden
Ricardo Montalban	...	Pete Delanos
Tom Reese	...	Matthews
James Mitchum	...	Detective Wolski
Argentina Brunetti	...	Aunt
Fred Essler	...	Mr. Klein
Eugene Iglesias	...	Father
Teri Lynn Sandoval	...	Amaya - Mexican Daughter
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Parley Baer	...	Banker (scenes deleted)
Stacy Harris	...	Drunken Man (scenes deleted)
Bill McLean	...	Delivery Man (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Joe Baron is a cop with money problems that seem solved when Joe is assigned to a burglary case involving half a million dollars stolen from a doctor office's safe.The very rich doctor Dr. Horace Van Tilden managed to shoot the intruder during the burglary but the thief is still breathing when the two cops arrive on the scene.On the way to the hospital the burglar reveals to Joe Baron that his target indeed was the half million dollars in the doctor's safe and the combination to the safe.Joe and his partner, Pete Delanos, decide to get to the cash and keep it for themselves.

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Plot Keywords:

neo noir | doctor's office | burglary | based on novel | bagman | 

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Taglines:

THIS WOMAN can change a tough cop into a tougher crook!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Mitchum was originally offered the lead by MGM. His son James Mitchum has a supporting role, Robert Ryan and Sterling Hayden were also offered leading roles

User Reviews

Good ingredients that are somewhat wasted

The cast and quality black-and-white camera work would seem to destine this film for something great but we don't get there. The problem seems to be the storyline/script which is just too familiar and predictable. Glen Ford plays a fairly well-to-do cop who feels pressured by his barbie doll young wife, Elke Sommer, to deliver even more affluence. His partner, Montalban, is more directly avaricious. Cotten is a corrupt doctor and a very used looking Rita Hayworth is Ford's ex-girlfriend from years ago.

Ford as usual, underplays but nevertheless makes you feel the cold emptiness and disillusionment of the character. Everyone else delivers well but I think we have all seen these characters, motivations and situations a hundred times before and the script does not give any room for interesting angles or surprises. We get a very dark (literally and figuratively) and gritty film but not something that is likely to grow on you. If this had been made in 1932, it would have been a far more significant film. By the mid 60s, it was tired formula.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Goldfalle

Filming Locations:

Brousseau Mansion - 238 S Bunker Hill Ave, Bunker Hill, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1