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Blood Money

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7.0/10 • 8

1933-11-171h 5m

Crime

The Law Got Them In! But He Got Them Out!

The title refers to the business of affable, ambitious bail bondsman (and politically-connected grifter) Bill Bailey, who, in the course of his work, crosses paths with every kind of offender there is, from first-time defendants to career criminals.

Directors
Rowland Brown
Writters
Rowland Brown, Hal Long, Speed Kendall
Editors
Rowland Brown, Hal Long, Speed Kendall, Lloyd Nosler

Top Billed Cast

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  1. George Bancroft

    George Bancroft

    Bill Bailey

  2. Judith Anderson

    Judith Anderson

    Ruby Darling

  3. Frances Dee

    Frances Dee

    Elaine Talbart

  4. Chick Chandler

    Chick Chandler

    Drury Darling

  5. Blossom Seeley

    Blossom Seeley

    Singer

  6. Etienne Girardot

    Etienne Girardot

    Bail Bond Clerk

  7. George Regas

    George Regas

    Charley

  8. Lucille Ball

    Lucille Ball

    Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited)

  9. Herman Bing

    Herman Bing

    Butcher Weighing Sausages (uncredited)

Reviews1

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waltzma Avatar

waltzma

Dec 14, 2017

8/10

This is a saucy pre-code melodrama that deserves cult status. Bail bondsman George Bancroft is known all throughout New York City and encounters people from every scrape of society in this pre-code crime drama. But he's going to need every ounce of street-smarts when he strikes up an acquaintance with kleptomaniac Frances Dee, a woman with a rather animistic sexual appetite. Judith Anderson gets to display a rare glamorous side here as the nightclub hostess obviously in love with Bancroft, with her famous mole darkened into a beauty spot. Dee gives Bancroft several looks that It's nice to see her playing a softer character. This is a fast-moving programmer, made on a dime, but not showing it. Quick edits, snappy photography and dialog, nice musical interludes by Blossom Seeley (singing such standards as "Melancholy Baby"), and a side of seedy New York sung about in the same year's "42nd Street" diluted in most movies. There's hints about lesbianism in addition to Dee's whacked-out libido. Tons of familiar character actors pop in and out, most notably Etienne Girardot, Chick Chandler (as Anderson's gangster brother), Clarence Wilson and Edward Van Sloan. There's even a very young Lucille Ball in a quick appearance! An exciting dog racing sequence is one of the film's visual highlights, and the finale is downright suspenseful, like something Hitchcock might do.

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
nymphomaniacpre-codebail bondsmankleptomaniacnightclub hostess