Smart Money

Smart Money is a compelling Pre-Code crime drama film from 1931, directed by Alfred E. Green, and starring Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, and Evalyn Knapp. A radiant example of early talking pictures, Smart Money is a noteworthy film, not just for its story, but for its memorable performances, particularly the dynamic pairing of Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney, who would later become Hollywood's iconic gangster figures.

Edward G. Robinson takes center stage as Nick “The Barber” Venizelos, an accomplished Greek immigrant barber residing in a small town. Nick is famed and liked for his gregarious personality, his revered skill in poker, and his jovial knack for making his customers feel good about themselves. Always high spirited, optimistic, and convivial, Nick enjoys a good game of poker and is considered to be highly sagacious in gambling, thereby earning the respect of his local community.

Although the movie's title itself hints at the concept of big money, it also subtly symbolizes Nick’s quick-thinking and clever strategizing. Nick's small-town fame reaches the ears of some city slickers, who lure him into an underground gambling scheme with the lure of big-city poker games. Blissfully unaware, optimistic, and supremely confident in his card skills, Nick reels in from his small town to take a gambit in the big city with $10,000 collected from his friends and acquaintances.

James Cagney stars as Jack, Nick’s loyal and dependable fellow barber and friend who sticks with Nick through thick and thin. While he plays a supporting role to Robinson, his performance is dynamic and unequivocally recognizable. Their historic encounter filled the movie with a unique charm and peppy banter, thereby solidifying their status as future stars of the classic Hollywood era.

Love and drama unfold in the plot when Nick, despite his gambling prowess, finds himself being swindled out of his money. This experience motivates him to dive even deeper into the underworld casino scene, where he starts to build up his empire amid the luminous backdrop of the glamorous yet gritty urban nightlife.

Evalyn Knapp portrays the role of Irene Graham, a sophisticated woman who catches Nick’s eye, introducing romance into this casino tale. The intricacies of their relationship paint a full-bodied, vivacious depiction of how love lives in the heart of a gambler.

The film is laced with an exquisite blend of drama, humor, and melodrama. It provides a vivid representation of the great dichotomy between the rural and urban upper-class life and the dark underbelly of the emerging American culture in the 1930s.

Nick's character is multi-faceted, both a charismatic commoner and sharp gambling prodigy. He is large-hearted to people he cares about, generous enough to lend money without interest, yet possesses an innate skill to turn the poker table in his favor. His Greek immigrant background adds another layer of complexity to his character, placing him as an outsider striving for success in the big city.

Director Alfred E. Green’s refined approach to the classic narrative of “the little guy against the world” encapsulates a fast-paced storyline that keeps the audience hooked. Green spectacularly portrays the high-stakes world of gambling, filled with tension, thrill, and victory, contrasted against the backdrop of personal relationships and moral dilemmas.

With its clever screenplay, brilliant cinematography, and excellent direction coupled with a remarkable cast, Smart Money successfully reveals the underbelly of the poker world, showing it not only as a game of hazard and fortune but also of intellectual skill and personal charisma. The movie is infused with the social dynamics of its time - an era blissfully ignorant about the forthcoming Great Depression. Overall, Smart Money brilliantly captures the essence of the American dream through the lens of a working-class immigrant striving to carve out a niche for himself in the high-stakes world of gambling.

Despite being nearly a century old, Smart Money retains its charm and relevance, representing an intersection of American history, culture, and cinema. To every film enthusiast and lover of classic cinema, it's an essential watch that encapsulates an era long gone but vividly remembered.