Smart Money (1931)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

Kubec Glasmon (screen story) &
John Bright (screen story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 July 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Immigrant Greek barber has uncommon skills in playing poker and soon rises in the seedy world of illegal gambling, but pretty blondes remain his Achilles' heel.

Plot Keywords:

Barber | Blonde | Gambling | Poker | Grifter

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Edward G. Robinson	...	Nick 'The Barber' Venizelos
James Cagney	...	Jack
Margaret Livingston	...	Irene Graham
Ralf Harolde	...	Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short
Noel Francis	...	Marie (Sleepy Sam's girl)
Evalyn Knapp	...	District Attorney's girl
Maurice Black	...	Greek barber
Billy House	...	Irontown salesman-gambler (as William House)
Paul Porcasi	...	Alexander Amenoppopolus
Gladys Lloyd	...	Second cigar stand clerk
Polly Walters	...	Lola (manicurist)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Alexander	...	Bellboy (uncredited)
Edwin Argus	...	Two-Time Phil, earlier introduced as Back-to-Back Shultz (uncredited)
Spencer Bell	...	Suntan (uncredited)
Clark 'Buddy' Burroughs	...	Mr. 'Deep' River (uncredited)
Donald Cook	...	Nick's Second Accomplice after Poker Game (uncredited)
John George	...	Dwarf on train (uncredited)
Eddie Hart	...	Detective (uncredited)
Edward Hearn	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Eulalie Jensen	...	Matron (uncredited)
Eddie Kane	...	Tom (Canary Cottage Club customer) (uncredited)
Boris Karloff	...	Sport Williams (uncredited)
Charles Lane	...	Hotel desk clerk (uncredited)
John Larkin	...	Snake Eyes, Porter (uncredited)
Gus Leonard	...	Joe (barber shop customer) (uncredited)
Wallace MacDonald	...	Cigar stand clerk (uncredited)
Mae Madison	...	Irontown blonde borrowing $100 (uncredited)
Charlotte Merriam	...	Girl at gaming table (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Bill, Nick's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Charles O'Malley	...	Guard with machine gun (uncredited)
Walter Percival	...	Dealer Barnes (uncredited)
George Reed	...	George, a Porter (uncredited)
Hector Sarno	...	Peter 'Pete' (uncredited)
Harry Semels	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Ben Taggart	...	Hickory Short (uncredited)
Morgan Wallace	...	Dist. Atty. Black (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfred E. Green

Writing credits
Kubec Glasmon		(screen story) &
John Bright		(screen story) &
Lucien Hubbard		(screen story) &
Joseph Jackson		(screen story)
Kubec Glasmon		(dialogue) &
John Bright		(dialogue) &
Lucien Hubbard		(dialogue) &
Joseph Jackson		(dialogue)

Produced by
Alfred E. Green	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
David Mendoza		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Robert Kurrle		(as Robert Kwirle)

Film Editing by
Jack Killifer

Art Direction by
Robert M. Haas		(as Robert Haas)

Costume Design by
Earl Luick		(as Karl Luick)
Edward Stevenson		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	conductor: Vitaphone orchestra
Oscar Potoker	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (as Warner Bros. Pictures & The Vitaphone Corporation)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1931) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Pictures & The Vitaphone Corporation)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

USA:81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Vitaphone

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2308-R, 26 May 1936 for re-release)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Despite both Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney having spent most of their acting careers with Warner's Bros., this was the only film the two acting legends appeared in together.

Goofs:

Factual errors: According to video commentators Ursini and Silver, Robinson starred as Luis Pasteur, a role that was played by Paul Muni. Also they credit "Scarface" as a Universal picture. It was actually a Caddo Picture released by United Artists.

Quotes:

Dist. Atty. Black: If you were the D.A., how would you tackle him?
Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short: I'd shoot him some night when he was trying to escape from the law.
Dist. Atty. Black: Don't be silly! Thaat isn't done!
Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short: Well, you know his weakness, don't you?
Dist. Atty. Black: What?
Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short: Heh, he's nuts for blondes. Yeah, send your wife around.
[as he exits the door]
Sleepy Sam, earlier mistaken for Hickory Short: He'll go for any old bag!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in James Cagney: Top of the World (1992) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Auld Lang Syne

Robinson Riveting Once More; Cagney A Bonus In Here

Two very famous little guys playing cocky guys - Edward G. Robinson and Jimmy Cagney; who could ask for anything more? Well, maybe a little more Cagney, as he is just a supporting player here, but overall I had no complaints watching this 1931 film.

Robinson was great in the lead as "Nick the Barber," (full name "Nick Venizelos.") Cagney is "Jack," an old friend who is employed by Nick. The Greek is a barber, but he's really a full-time gambler or evolves into that role quickly during this story. He goes from small-town hick to big city boss but the road is bumpy along the way. He gets taken by the big crook in town twice, gets hustled by a couple of blondes (Nick's real weakness) but overcomes all of them to be gambling czar.

After Nick's successful jaunts at revenge are completed, the last third of the film is devoted to the city's district attorney trying to get some goods on Nick and put him away and get him out of his city.

This movie, as expected considering the year it was made, is very dated but another of those early '30s films that has a lot of snap, crackle and pop to it. The dialog is crisp and edgy with the expressions of the day and everybody is just nasty enough to make them all interesting characters.

Robinson, as in "Little Caesar," is super in here, much like the cocky gangster roles Cagney also would play in the same period ("The Public Enemy," "Lady Killer," etc.).

The blondes all look similar with the short curly hair of the period and the sexism, racism and other "isms" are all on display here in this fun "gangster movie." The ending was odd but that, too, was the mark of these Pre-Code films which certainly were different.

Now that it's out on DVD, check this film out if you're a fan of the early crime genre, or a fan of Robinson's. You won't be disappointed.