Smart Money

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Smart Money

Released Jun 11, 1931

1h 30m

Drama

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4 Reviews

48%

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250+ Ratings

After being cheated by big-city criminals, small-town Greek barber Nick Venezelos (Edward G. Robinson) lives up to his lucky reputation by returning to beat the criminals. With his winnings, Nick repays the townspeople who loaned him money, then opens a gambling parlor, using his barbershop as a front. Despite Nick's honestly conducted game, the district attorney schemes to shut him down, playing on both his weakness for beautiful blondes and the decency of his best friend, Jack (James Cagney).

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Gabe Leibowitz

Film and Felt

In many ways, the first half of Alfred E. Green's Smart Money can be seen as a stage-setter for John Dahl's game-changing Rounders.

Rated: 76/100

Apr 24, 2011

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David Cornelius

DVDTalk.com

Few actors had the energy and charisma to keep up with the rat-a-tat pacing of pre-Code gangster flicks that Robinson had.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 5, 2008

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

After the stars' debut in Little Caesar and The Public Enemy, this one must have been a letdown for fans. It was for me.

Rated: 5/10

Mar 24, 2008

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A typical Warner Brothers crime drama of that period.

Rated: C

Apr 24, 2003

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Steve D

The script is dull but the cast makes it ok.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

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Louisa E

This was a pretty run of the mill gangster movie but it had more heart in it than others. I got a bit confused with the female leads as to who was who, but it was a good story. My favourite things were James Cagney (one of my faves), the ending, and pretty solid acting. At times, it was a bit predictable or over the top but still an enjoyable watch. 6.8/10.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/09/23

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Audience Member

Some parts of the script were dreadful, but Cagney and Robinson have enough charisma together to pull this off. It's a shame they never worked together again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

Decent Depression era yarn about professional gambling, and the associated scams and corruption. Cagney's role is very much supporting, but EGR is more than capable of carrying the film - if only the blokes I usually gamble with were as cheery as him.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

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Audience Member

Forgettable and not worth watching just because Eddie G and Jimmy C are in it together. Cagney doesn't get much air time and the movie doesn't have a single gunshot to it which is disappointing for a Robinson or Cagney movie...

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

Edward G. Robinson seems to be playing the sucker male roles lately..."Smart Money" isn't really anything original but about a guy Nick "The Barber" Veniz (Robinson) who seems to have a weakness for gorgeous women and literally acts like a white knight to them. "The Barber" hnags out with his loyal brother named Jack played by James Cagney (in one of lesser good guy roles) who doesn't want to see his brother seen as a wuss. They're both into heavy gambling and run a so called barbershop and still remain humble loyal guys. The good life all catches up for The Barber where he will have to admit to his sins. "Smart Money" is a good film but it's themes is pretty much what audiences have seen before.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Alfred E. Green

Director

Edward G. Robinson

Nick "The Barber" Venizelos

James Cagney

Jack

Evalyn Knapp

Irene Graham

Ralf Harolde

Sleepy Sam

Noel Francis

Marie

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Synopsis

After being cheated by big-city criminals, small-town Greek barber Nick Venezelos (Edward G. Robinson) lives up to his lucky reputation by returning to beat the criminals. With his winnings, Nick repays the townspeople who loaned him money, then opens a gambling parlor, using his barbershop as a front. Despite Nick's honestly conducted game, the district attorney schemes to shut him down, playing on both his weakness for beautiful blondes and the decency of his best friend, Jack (James Cagney).

Director: Alfred E. Green
Producer: Alfred E. Green
Screenwriter: Kubec Glasmon, John Bright, Lucien Hubbard, Joseph Jackson
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 11, 1931, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 30m

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