Money Means Nothing
Money Means Nothing

Movie spotlight

Money Means Nothing

1934
Movie
70 min
English

At Joe's Roadside, a popular but rundown New York roadhouse where the wealthy and not-so-wealthy hang out, a wealthy Manhattan girl and a struggling Brooklyn boy meet and fall in love. She marries him against the wishes of her family, believing that love can solve everything, but she soon wonders if she made the right choice when she finds herself living in a manner, and with the kinds of people, she hadn't counted on.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Director: Roy Del RuthGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

A struggling young lawyer, driven by financial desperation and ambition, takes on a case defending a wealthy businessman accused of embezzlement. He becomes entangled with the businessman's glamorous daughter, whose motivations are unclear. As the trial progresses, the lawyer must navigate a web of deceit and betrayal, questioning his own moral compass and the true meaning of success.

Critical Reception

Critically, 'Money Means Nothing' received a mixed reception upon its release. While Spencer Tracy's performance was often lauded for its intensity and depth, some critics found the plot to be predictable and the moral dilemmas less impactful than intended. Audiences at the time were more receptive, with the film performing reasonably well at the box office.

What Reviewers Say

  • Spencer Tracy delivers a compelling performance as a man torn between ambition and ethics.

  • The film's exploration of wealth and morality is thought-provoking, though occasionally heavy-handed.

  • A standard, albeit well-acted, melodrama of the Depression era.

Google audience: Audience reception information for this film is largely unavailable from public Google review data.

Fun Fact

Spencer Tracy's role in 'Money Means Nothing' was one of his early significant parts in Hollywood, helping to establish him as a leading man capable of dramatic depth.

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