Quick Money


59m 1937
Quick Money

Brief Synopsis

A small-town mayor fights crooks set on opening a gambling resort.

Film Details

Also Known As
Taking the Town
Genre
Drama
Comedy
Release Date
Dec 10, 1937
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
59m
Film Length
6 reels

Synopsis

When Blueford H. Smythe, a seemingly prosperous tycoon, returns to his home town of Glenwood, Kansas, he is treated like a dignitary by everyone except the mayor, Jonas Tompkins. Instinctively suspicious of his former classmate, Jonas balks when he hears that Smythe and his secretary, Ambrose Ames, have been discussing with members of the city council a plan to turn Glenwood into a resort. Unknown to the town, Smythe and Ambrose are a seasoned confidence team, who have no trouble convincing the council members to buy stock in their phony company. Determined to protect the school fund from Smythe's scheming, Jonas refuses to cooperate with the council, and consequently he and his family are ostracized by the town. At Ambrose's urging, Smythe calls on Jonas' wife Lyda and, using his status as a former sweetheart, suggests that she pressure Jonas into changing his attitude. To placate the town, Lyda invites Smythe and the resort committee to dinner, but her efforts are sabotaged by her son Freddie, a science whiz, who plants explosives and other gags in the food. After Jonas announces that, as mayor, he is prohibiting the sale of stocks, the town rallies to have him impeached. Just before the special election, however, Bill, a young reporter who is engaged to Jonas' daughter Alice, undertakes an investigation into Smythe's past. On the eve of the election, Bill receives a wire from the F.B.I. suggesting that he photograph Smythe for positive identification. Bill tricks Smythe into posing for him, then leaves with the photograph for the regional F.B.I. office. To prevent the town from impeaching him before Bill returns, Jonas and Freddie engineer a series of election stalls. With only seconds to spare, Jonas is saved by the arrival of an F.B.I. agent, who announces to the stunned town that Smythe and Ambrose are notorious confidence men. At last vindicated, Jonas is re-elected by a landslide.

Film Details

Also Known As
Taking the Town
Genre
Drama
Comedy
Release Date
Dec 10, 1937
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
59m
Film Length
6 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The working title of this film was Taking the Town. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, Joe Lerner was assigned to work with credited writer Bert Granet on the screenplay, but his contribution to the final film has not been determined. Motion Picture Herald's "In the Cutting Room" includes Leona Roberts in the cast, but her participation in the final film has not been confirmed.