Quick Millions (1931 film)

Quick Millions is a 1931 pre-Code crime film directed by Rowland Brown and starring Spencer Tracy, Marguerite Churchill, Sally Eilers, and featuring George Raft as the sidekick with a solo eccentric dance performance.

Quick Millions
Directed byRowland Brown
Produced byWilliam Fox
Written byRowland Brown
Courtney Terrett
StarringSpencer Tracy
Marguerite Churchill
Sally Eilers
George Raft
CinematographyJoseph H. August
Distributed byFox Film Corporation
Release date
April 1931
Running time
72 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

It was the first of only three films directed by Rowland Brown.[1]

Plot

The film involves a truck driver (Spencer Tracy) and the wealthy woman (Marguerite Churchill) whom he covets, and also features Sally Eilers, George Raft and Leon Ames in supporting roles.[2][3]

Cast

Production

Brown had wanted to break into Hollywood but not succeeded until he sold Doorway to Hell. He then wrote Skyline and persuaded Fox to let him direct.[4] The film was also known as Hoodlum.[5]

The film gave an early role to George Raft who had been spotted dancing by director Rowland Brown. According to the Los Angeles Times "Brown was looking for menace with sex appeal" and Raft was filming the day after Brown first saw him.[6] (Another account says Raft was recommended to Brown by Owney Madden.[7]) The fact that this was Raft's first major role in a narrative feature film accounts for his low billing (seventh in the cast) despite the large size of his supporting part. Raft played an extremely similar role the following year in Scarface (1932) starring Paul Muni, which catapulted his career into stardom.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "unrelieved, unrelenting... gray and cold and harsh."[8]

The New York Times said it was "endowed with originality and suspense" and was "exceeding well directed and ably acted."[9]

According to Filmink magazine "Raft was chosen for his 'seductive menace' and it was a decent part – flirting with girls, bumping off fellow gangsters, being shot down by Tracy. Raft wasn't much of a technical actor – he never would be, not really – but he had swarthy good looks, moved with a dancer's grace and brought authenticity to any role that involved speakeasies, shoot outs and nightclubs."[10]

References
  1. THE TRANSGRESSIVE DISCOURSE OF ROWLAND BROWN'S CINEMA (1931-1933): A BRIEF CAREER IN PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD Gomar, Carmen Guiralt. Revista de Comunicación de la SEECI; Madrid Iss. 40, (Jul 2016): 133-152.
  2. Everett Aaker, The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, 2013 p 16
  3. The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:..Quick Millions
  4. PRODUCERS, PLAYERS AND PICTURES: New York Times February 15, 1931: 110.
  5. PROJECTION JOTTINGS: Warner Oland as Chan Again--Howard Hughes's Aviation Comedy--Other Items New York Times29 Mar 1931: X6.
  6. "CIRCUITOUS ROUTE TO HOLLYWOOD FOR RAFT". Los Angeles Times. October 23, 1932. p. B7.
  7. Pre-MGM Spencer Tracy Tibbetts, John C. Films in Review; New York Vol. 46, Iss. 9-10, (Nov 1995): 2.
  8. Grim Racket Picture Gives "No Quarter" Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times May 9, 1931: A7.
  9. THE SCREEN: Racketeering and Murder. By MORDAUNT HALL. New York Times April 18, 1931: 24.
  10. Vagg, Stephen (February 9, 2020). "Why Stars Stop Being Stars: George Raft". Filmink.
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