The Pay-Off

Catch that brief nightclub scene where the party-goers empty their flasks as the cops charge through. Yup, it's still Prohibition, 1930, though illegal booze doesn't figure in the plot. Instead, it's gangster Fenmore finding out just how much bad guy he is. That's courtesy the youthful innocents Nancy and Tommy who get implicated in his shenanigans. All in all, it's a tepid 65-minutes, without much suspense. Mainly, actor-director Sherman gets to show his skills in what amounts to more of a character study than a crime drama. Note how expressively Sherman uses his eyes to convey what's going on inside. It's really his showcase. I was also impressed by an unknown (to me) Hugh Trevor as tough guy Rocky. Too bad he had such a brief career. And what about plug-ugly George Marion as Mouse. Facially, he resembles Wallace Beery on a really bad day. Here, the cast outshines the plot.

Since talkies are still fairly new, scenes are pretty much confined to indoor sets, though some like the mansion living room are striking. I guess my only real gripe is why they had to make the two kids so sweetly innocent. They fairly drip sugar. Anyway, the film amounts to a programmer, 1930's style, and not much more.

Please ignore the CGI Generation Comments – because – if you love silent films and early talkies – you'll love this.

If this film does have a fault – it lies in the film's not being quite able to make up its mind whether to be one of those wonderful screwball comedies of the 30's – or – something a bit more serious.

Watching actors/actresses who had survived the transition to talking films is always fascinating to me – and – we had our share here – with – Lowell Sherman being both actor and director.

The plot is simple and straightforward – as it should be – without becoming overly melodramatic or silly. Had the direction moved in either direction toward a screwball comedy – or – a drama – (perhaps) – the film might have been a tad bit better – but – all-in-all – it did manage to strike a nice balance between the two.

Some wonderful actors – many forgotten names – many of whom died young.

Not the type of film that will tug at your heartstrings – but – an enjoyable film none-the-less.

Highly recommend for old film buffs.

This film tells the story of an well bred and mannered man (Lowell Sherman) who happens to be the boss of an underworld racket. When one of his henchmen robs a young couple about to get married, he feels sorry for them and takes them in as his family, only to have other henchmen in his crime unit make them stooges in robberies.

An early sound film (1930) directed by Lowell Sherman, the stand out performance here is by Sherman himself. He has a very natural and easy going style of acting, making me curious to see other films in which he starred. The plot of the film, though not very believable, still makes for interesting viewing.

Stagy and a little disappointing but an interesting story, and the film boasts Lowell Sherman--a very underrated actor/director. A film star for 20 years, he is forgotten now, but his great talkie success, What Price Hollywood, is still considered one of the best 30s films.

In The Pay-Off, Sherman plays a gentlemanly gangster who gets involved with a young couple of innocents--William Janney and Marian Nixon--who get involved in his crime ring when they get mugged my a "butcher" played by hunky Hugh Trevor. While the premise is interesting, the film is not too well done and it talks itself to death.

The ending is no big surprise, but Lowell Sherman remains one of the great undiscovered acting talents of the early talkie period. Despite his make-up (very stagy) his acting is very natural and not at all the hammy early talkie style.

George Marion plays Mousy, Helene Millard is Dot, Robert McWade and Al Roscoe also co-star.

Hugh Trevor, who died a few years after this film, is best remembered for 2 comedies with Wheeler and Woolsey--The Cuckoos and Half Shot at Sunrise. He could have been a big star--tall and handsome--but he died on the operating table during a routine appendectomy.

Another Alpha Video $4.99 DVD bringing a forgotten pre-WWII second (or third?) matinee feature to the DVD player.

A young couple sits in a faux Central Park late at night contemplating their marriage the next day. Fortunately the lad has saved $260 towards their life together. But a real nasty bad guy overhears them and holds them up taking every dime.

But...the almost groom recognizes the creep as a guy who hangs out in the building where he's a super's schlepper (that's NYC talk). So he and fiancee attempt to regain the money by armed robbery and blow it. They're captured by the gang.

The gang, which does high values burglaries and robberies, is headed by a suave guy, Gene Foreman, played actually with some insight by Lowell Sherman who was at the tail end of his acting career. Perhaps he knew that: he seems genuinely sad throughout the film.

Foreman eschews violence-he's a dapper dan in tails who gets leads to promising heists through wining and dining the rich. Foreman sort of adopts the young couple and the girl really likes him. Her boyfriend worries about losing this gem who intones "squeeze me" whenever she's scared, needs affectionate reassurance or both.

The really nasty dude, Rocky, is murdered and the couple are the suspects. Foreman magnificently rises to the occasion, his acting transcending the limitations of predictable plot, sets less realistic than those on "The Honeymooners" and a supporting cast of deservedly unknowns.

Fun flick from the past.

5/10