A crafty salesman attempts to raise some quick cash to fund an inventor's development of a gasoline substitute.A crafty salesman attempts to raise some quick cash to fund an inventor's development of a gasoline substitute.A crafty salesman attempts to raise some quick cash to fund an inventor's development of a gasoline substitute.
George Beranger
- Ed Biddle
- (as Andre Beranger)
Eddie Conrad
- Antonio Romenetti
- (as Ed. Conrad)
Charley Foy
- Ratto
- (as Charles Foy)
Robert Emmett Keane
- Professor Kimberly
- (as R. Emmett Keane)
Edwin Stanley
- Joe Thomas
- (as Ed. Stanley)
Tom Brower
- The Warden
- (uncredited)
Sol Gorss
- Contract Man
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAt one point, one of the phony directors reads the name "First National" off a ticker tape. Though presumably it refers to a bank, it could also be an inside joke, referring to First National Pictures, which Warner Bros. had bought several years earlier and still used as a label.
- ConnectionsRemake of Le bluffeur (1932)
Featured review
Fasten your seat belts because actor Alexander is at warp speed as fast buck promoter Chick Randall. Restraint is not his game, as words and deeds fly by. In fact, the entire production appears over-the-top. Hook it up to a generator and our energy crisis is over. But then the story's premise invites exaggeration. Ex-con Randall needs start-up money to finance a sure winner—turning water into gasoline!! Trouble is the inventor wants a million for his formula. So Randall's hustling at warp speed using both fair means and foul. Sure enough, following product demonstrations, investors flock in, buying stock in a company that doesn't yet own the magic formula. Then disaster strikes, the weirdo inventor disappears leaving Randall holding the bag, and a humongous one it is. He better get the formula or he's back in the slammer.
Actually, the narrative's a pretty good intro to business start-up, capitalist style. That is, if you can overlook the load of nonsensical antics. Then too, the star-crossed Alexander brings off the role pretty convincingly. His career unfortunately was a short one, which I guess is why his top-billed name seems so unfamiliar. Too bad. Still, the casting was a big payday opportunity for short, bald geezer types, not something they usually get. Anyway, I recommend the movie as a lively intro to Econ. 101, and if not that, the sheer momentum of Alexander's performance may carry you through.
Actually, the narrative's a pretty good intro to business start-up, capitalist style. That is, if you can overlook the load of nonsensical antics. Then too, the star-crossed Alexander brings off the role pretty convincingly. His career unfortunately was a short one, which I guess is why his top-billed name seems so unfamiliar. Too bad. Still, the casting was a big payday opportunity for short, bald geezer types, not something they usually get. Anyway, I recommend the movie as a lively intro to Econ. 101, and if not that, the sheer momentum of Alexander's performance may carry you through.
- dougdoepke
- Sep 14, 2016
- Permalink
Details
- Runtime1 hour 8 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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