Refurtiva nascosta

This is a very strange MGM short because it stars pretty-boy Robert Taylor in a very untraditional role. Because it was very early in his career, the big-wigs didn't know how to use him and experimented by starring him in this short crime drama--a role quite unlike his soon to be established persona.

The film is made in a semi-documentary style and is entitled a "Crime Does Not Pay" film. It begins with a narrator and government official preaching that crime is bad and then the narrator talks about a strange case that proves this assertion. Robert Taylor's character works in a bank and embezzles $200,000 (a HUGE sum of money in 1935) and is naturally sent to jail. However, very oddly, he turns himself in to the boss and doesn't try to run--saying he spent the money gambling and having fun. There's a lot more to it than that but I really don't want to spoil it. Suffice to say, though, that it's pretty exciting and what happens to handsome Taylor's face is pretty cool to see.

Overall, while not a great film, it is very unusual as well as a great curio for film history buffs and fans of Hollywood's Golden Age.

Buried Loot (1935)

**** (out of 4)

An embezzler steals $200,000 and says he gambled it away. This isn't exactly true because he's buried the money and plans to get it when he's released from prison in five years but a few twists changes things. Here's a terrific MGM short from their "Crime Does Not Pay" film line, which back then was what the TV show Cops is today. Cops would tell true life crimes and then re-enact them. This story is full of wonderful twists and turns and the ending is downright jaw dropping. One of the best of its kind.

One of Robert Taylor's earliest "films"--if you call a short subject, a film.

All about a guy who steals $200,000 from a bank and the aftermath that goes with it. I found it to be very entertaining and thought that it was too bad that they did not do a complete full length film on this one, as it was really well made!!

Try and catch it on a certain cable channel that shows these "one reel wonders", as it is a good one.

Robert Taylor is no ordinary crook. He's smart. He confesses to embezzling $200,000 from the bonding company he he works for and accepts the five-to-ten-year sentence. What no one knows is he's buried the money where no one will find it. He figures that after he serves his time, he'll get it and live the high life. He's wrong, of course, because this is the first episode of MGM's long-running CRIME DOES NOT PAY series.

MGM made no mistake with this episode, starring the rising Robert Taylor. George Seitz directed and co-wrote the short subject, and production value was added by using clips from THE BIG HOUSE. Atmosphere is augmented by camerawork that includes a lot of side-lighting and shadows that would become the bedrock of film noir. All in all, a very satisfactory effort.

I first saw this film on Channel 4 back in 1988 whilst I was in secondary school and remember thinking that this was a good vehicle to showcase Robert Taylor as a future talent. It is far superior to 'Society Doctor' simply we see him scheming when he is in court being given a prison sentence. It has the feel of the 'Scotland Yard' short subjects. We see him enjoying himself in prison playing the game until it is time for him to be released and free to enjoy his $200,000. However, the idea is dropped into his head that whilst he is in prison someone may discover his buried loot and leave him with nothing. You see the smile drop from his face and replaced with a dark gloom. There is darkness in Robert Taylor, and it is pity that he always played protagonists because he had enough darkness in him to play antagonists like in 'Undercurrent'.