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You won't be disappointed!

Sorry, this movie sucks

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Whilst "Smart Money" was being filmed, Edward G. Robinson had become a star at "Warner Bros," thanks to his film, "Little Caesar." James Cagney had just finished making "The Public Enemy" and that film hadn't yet been released. "Smart Money" isn't another gangster film as the story doesn't allow for that kind of character and Robinson isn't a hoodlum either. He is a professional barber who happens to be a gambler. For a while in the film, Robinson is small time but after avenging himself upon the con men who took all his money, he carves out a gambling empire with Cagney as his right hand man. The District Attorney has had enough of all the gambling and corruption that goes with it and he plans Robinson's downfall. His demise comes in a most unexpected way. Edward G. Robinson dominates "Smart Money" but James Cagney is right there after the half way stage. Their scenes are absolutely superb and I wish the two actors had made more films together. Boris Karloff makes a brief appearance as a gambler. Robinson is a very affable character and his wealth and power does little to change his disposition. The two leads carry this film but the story and narrative are far above average.

A mildly comedic drama directed by Alfred E. Green. A selling point is a the first and only time screen icons Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney would appear together on the silver-screen. The established Robinson and the soon emerging star Cagney play together quite well. Robinson plays an immigrant Greek barber, Nick Venizelos; a guys guy hooked on poker. By chance or talent, Nick knew how to win money and lots of it. But not satisfied being the 'big fish in a little pond'; Nick is backed with money from his friends and goes to "the city" to play with the big boys and bigger money. Nick and his fondness for pretty blondes and a poker game does not mix well. Soon he is "taken to the cleaners" by a card shark, Sleepy Sam(Ralf Harolde). But not totally down on his luck, one of his best pals, Jack(Cagney), shows up in time to turn the tables on the sleazy operator, who cheated Nick out of his bankroll.Story line well constructed with better than average dialogue(for the times.) It appears obvious that Cagney does not want to take anything away from Robinson in the scenes they share. And a nice parade of pretty girls. Rounding out the cast: Noel Francis, Evalyn Knapp, Maurice Black, Paul Porcasi and Margaret Livingston.

The same year that he starred in Little Caesar and Five Star Final, Robinson made the Oscar-nominated film that shows the rise of a small-town gambler that goes to the big city and gets suckered. Six months later he is back vowing to never let that happen again and he rises to the top of the gambling world.With James Cagney (Yankee Doodle Dandy, Angels With Dirty faces)at his side to watch out for him, he manages to elude capture by the authorities - mainly because he has bought off most of them. But, as he says, he has a weakness for women - especially blonds. That will prove his down fall.It was not the "Little Caesar" Robinson, but a happy-go-lucky guy that just seemed to take things as they come. he was smiling and laying odds as they carted him off to prison. A funny film that is only marred by the racism that was typical of the time.

This is a nicely tailored story about the rise of Nick the Barber( a real barber)from the small gambling environs of Irontown to his rise to the big time gambling scene. Several things distinguish this film from just another mob movie. And that is just it for starters. This is not a mob movie. Edward G. Robinson's Nick is one of the kindest, most liked, and honest "crime" bosses you will ever see in film. Eddie doesn't shoot it up - in fact no one is murdered(Okay, I'm being a stickler here). This film also shows how difficult gambling can be as a profession. But at the film's heart is Robinson's performance. Nick is a sweet, at times naive, resilient guy with a weak/blind spot for pretty blondes. Aiding Eddie is none other than Jimmy Cagney playing Jack his friend and fellow business associate. Alfred E. Green does a rather deft job directing this very early sound picture. The pace is fast and the mood never compromised. The rest of the cast is quite good. Boris Karloff has a bizarre cameo as a man that has something Eddie just had - but we never know why Boris had it. It's a treat seeing Karloff and Robinson and Cagney in a brief yet memorable scene.