Review by Nick Wheatley
Stars Jack Warner, Petula Clark, Mervyn Johns, Dennis Price,
Greta Gynt, Edward Rigby, David Tomlinson | Written by Muriel & Sydney Box
UK cert U | UK RRP £12.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 94 minutes | Directed by Bernard Knowles
Easy Money is a British film released in 1948 telling four short tales of gambling in the UK, specifically revolving around the football pool. We are exposed to the effects it has on individuals around the country. The film begins following a content suburban family whose patriarchal figure is Jack Warner. The family believe they have won the football pool but soon realise how the anticipation of wealth affects their lives for the worse.
Next the focus is shifted to a tragic tale of a mild-mannered clerk, Mervyn Johns, who wins at the pool and is troubled over how to approach his terrifying boss to submit his resignation. Then we move onto the tale of a coupon checker, Dennis Price, who devises a scheme along with his nightclub singer girlfriend, Greta Gynt, to defraud the pool company and win the jackpot. The final story concerns an orchestral bass player, Edward Rigby, who again receives the winning cash through the pool and soon realises he misses his old life.
The film seems to be aimed at all audiences with an eclectic range of genres from fast-talking comedy, Hitchcockian suspense and even delving into dark tragedy. Due to this decision to mix a variety of styles the tone of the film is muddled. Whilst it's an interesting concept to see what effects gambling can have on peoples lives, whether it be pleasure, affliction, duplicity or regret, the focus should have been shifted to one story and not four.
The variety does offer certain positives and with the comedic stories missing the mark with most modern audiences the more compelling stories are the humorless ones. Having four short stories meant that there was very little time to get to know the characters since the exposition needed to be blurted out as quick as possible, there was no time to understand and learn more about the characters. A few actors do well with the time they have, Jack Warner, Greta Gynt and a very young David Tomlinson (of Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks fame) achieve a great deal with the little time that they have.
The film is from a bygone era but does manage to be engaging in parts. Even with the cheesy narrator, the fast talking dialogue scenes the very long takes, the moments where characters speak to the audience and the comedy that very often misses the mark the viewer must try to forgive that. Approach the film realising it is dated and then there are some enjoyable moments and performances to take from it.
All in all it's a film of it's time that almost feels like more of a public service announcement exposing the evils of gambling but if you look past the filmmaking style of the time there are some good moments and for one who enjoys their films from that era I think this can be good, not great.
EXTRAS ★ With only a few trailers of other British films of a similar time available (including one called The Gay Dog) it is an almost non-exsistant set of extras.