Hot Money

This is the 14th of 17 films made by Ross Alexander, a talented but doomed young actor. I say 'doomed' because only a short time after completing the film, and at age 30, Alexander committed suicide. What a sad waste.

The plot for "Hot Money" is ridiculous. A wacky scientist has come up with a formula to turn water into gasoline and it apparently works. But before learning the formula and actually buying it, some dopey investors start a company and plan on going public. But they also need a man to sell this idea and, oddly, they get Chick Randall (Alexander)...straight from a stint in prison!! Oddly, however, Chick walks, talks and acts like a huckster...but he really believes in the company. But after selling many shares in their new company, the inventor...and his formula...disappear!

The fast pacing is perfect for this film....and the movie never seems to slow down in the least! And, while I might not have cast Alexander in the role (I would gotten Lee Tracy), he was excellent here. A fun and enjoyable film...thanks to a dandy script.

Fasten your seat belts because actor Alexander is at warp speed as fast buck promoter Chick Randall. Restraint is not his game, as words and deeds fly by. In fact, the entire production appears over-the-top. Hook it up to a generator and our energy crisis is over. But then the story's premise invites exaggeration. Ex-con Randall needs start-up money to finance a sure winner—turning water into gasoline!! Trouble is the inventor wants a million for his formula. So Randall's hustling at warp speed using both fair means and foul. Sure enough, following product demonstrations, investors flock in, buying stock in a company that doesn't yet own the magic formula. Then disaster strikes, the weirdo inventor disappears leaving Randall holding the bag, and a humongous one it is. He better get the formula or he's back in the slammer.

Actually, the narrative's a pretty good intro to business start-up, capitalist style. That is, if you can overlook the load of nonsensical antics. Then too, the star-crossed Alexander brings off the role pretty convincingly. His career unfortunately was a short one, which I guess is why his top-billed name seems so unfamiliar. Too bad. Still, the casting was a big payday opportunity for short, bald geezer types, not something they usually get. Anyway, I recommend the movie as a lively intro to Econ. 101, and if not that, the sheer momentum of Alexander's performance may carry you through.

Sixt-four years later we're still living it, the speculators' dream and the gamblers' paradise. This lively farce (grade-C only in credits and the dollars it worships) features hot-shot dialogue and a clear-cut version of shyster stock-wielding that is still so important today. If the Common Man plays close attention, all of the lessons of modern economics are laid out, one after another. A career high for the prolific director McGann, and the screen writer Jacobs bears a great responsibility for this fun little gem also. Don't miss it!