''Hot Money'' is a 1936 American

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by William C. McGann and written by William Jacobs. The film stars Ross Alexander, Beverly Roberts, Joseph Cawthorn, Paul Graetz, Andrew Tombes and Cy Kendall. The film was released by

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

on July 18, 1936. It was based on the play of the same name by Aben Kandel who also co-wrote the screenplay. The story was used twice before in films as ''

High Pressure In science and engineering the study of high pressure examines its effects on materials and the design and construction of devices, such as a diamond anvil cell, which can create high pressure. ''High pressure'' usually means pressures of thousan ...

'' (1932) and a French speaking version in the same year ''Le bluffeur''.

Plot

A possibly crazy scientist has apparently invented a formula that can turn water into gasoline. Despite his reluctance, businessman Dourfuss is convinced by con artist Willie to provide seed money. Willie then recruits his pal, fast-talking sharpie Chick Randall, to seek out investors and help sell the product to the public. Chick hires a bunch of derelicts with names like Vanderbilt and Ford to act as the board of directors, as well as a pretty stenographer, Grace Lane. She initially thinks the whole thing is a scam, but a demonstration convinces her it's on the level; in time, they fall in love. But things take an ugly turn when the initial supply runs out and the scientist has disappeared.

Cast

* Ross Alexander as Chick Randall * Beverly Roberts as Grace Lane * Joseph Cawthorn as Max Dourfuss * Paul Graetz as Dr. David * Andrew Tombes as Willie * Frank Orth as Hank Ford * Cy Kendall as Joe Morgan * George Beranger as Ed Biddle * Joe Cunningham as Gus Vanderbilt * Anne Nagel as Ruth McElniney * Eddie Conrad as Antonio Romenetti * Harry Burns as Pasquale Romenetti *

Addison Richards Addison Whittaker Richards, Jr. (October 20, 1902 – March 22, 1964) was an American actor of film and television. Richards appeared in more than 300 films between 1933 and his death in 1964. Biography A native of Zanesville, Ohio, Richard ...

as Forbes * Charley Foy as Ratto * Robert Emmett Keane as Professor Kimberly * Edwin Stanley as Joe Thomas

Reception

T.M.P. of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' said, "Patterned somewhat along the lines of ''Get Rich Quick Wallingford'', the new film is neither particularly good nor conspicuously poor farce. Thanks to competent editing and direction, it falls quite gracefully into that niche reserved for "amiable entertainments."

References

External links

* * * 1936 films Warner Bros. films American comedy films 1936 comedy films Films directed by William C. McGann American black-and-white films American films based on plays 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language comedy films {{1930s-comedy-film-stub