Wednesday, June 17, 2020

The Pay-Off (1930)

Somewhat overly wordy but decent early talkie. A young couple (William Janney and Marian Nixon) are robbed of their wedding funds and therefore decide to get involved with crime (natch). They get involved with gentleman crime boss Gene (Lowell Sherman) who takes kindly to them. Gene's rival Rocky (Hugh Trevor) is pretty unimpressed and seeks to control the organisation himself.

Things come to a head when the gang plan a big hit but Gene doesn't want any bloodshed, much to the disgust of Rocky...

Although not that great a film. The plot is a little contrived at times though fast moving. Lowell Sherman plays a good part. The other actors verge between basic competence and almost awful.