Hot Money: A scrappy little relic of the 30s

Is it worth the watch?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s black-and-white fluff where the dialogue moves faster than a caffeinated squirrel, then Hot Money will suit you just fine. It’s not going to change your life or win any awards, but it’s got that specific, scrappy energy of a studio just trying to fill a double feature slot. If you hate movies where the plot hinges entirely on people talking in rooms while clutching stacks of fake cash, stay away.

The whole thing feels like a play that got lost on its way to a soundstage. Ross Alexander is doing a lot of heavy lifting as the salesman, and honestly, his charm is the only reason the movie doesn't completely evaporate halfway through.

The Hustle

The plot is basically one long grift involving a magical gas substitute. You know the drill—inventor needs money, salesman finds the money, everyone ends up in a heap of trouble. It’s got a bit of the same frantic, low-budget desperation you find in A Self-Made Failure, though maybe a little less focused.

There is this one scene where they’re trying to demonstrate the fuel, and the camera lingers on the equipment for so long you start to wonder if the prop department actually knew what they were doing. It’s not important, but I couldn't look away. 🙄

• The supporting cast is full of faces you’ve definitely seen in a dozen other movies from this decade.
• The pacing is frantic, which is good because it doesn't give you time to question why the main character is so trusting.
• The "science" behind the gas is basically nonexistent, which is hilarious in hindsight.

It’s funny to think how this compares to something like Crooner, where the tone is just so different despite both coming from that same era of studio assembly lines. Hot Money isn't trying to be deep. It's trying to be snappy. Most of the time, it hits that mark.

Also, the hats. Everyone has a very specific hat in this movie. It’s a very 1936 production design choice. Sometimes a character enters a room and I’m more interested in the hat than the actual plot point being delivered. That’s probably a bad sign, but it’s the truth. 🎩

Don't expect much. Just sit back and let the rapid-fire banter wash over you. It's a quick 60-something minutes that disappears the moment you turn off the TV.