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5.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Money Talks remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a thing for black-and-white British comedies from the early thirties, sure. Go for it. It’s a very specific vibe—lots of frantic pacing and people talking over each other in rooms that feel like they might tip over if someone slammed a door too hard.
If you prefer your movies to have, you know, actual stakes or modern editing, you’re going to hate this. It’s slow. It’s loud in a way that feels like a headache. It feels like a stage play that got lost on the way to the theater.
There’s this scene about halfway through where our main guy tries to gamble his way into poverty. It’s supposed to be funny, but it mostly just feels like watching someone make the worst financial decision of their life for twenty minutes straight. It’s exhausting.
The cast is doing their best, I guess. Julian Rose is working overtime to make sure we know exactly how stressed he is. Every facial expression is dialed up to an eleven. It’s a bit much, honestly.
You can tell the budget was… tight. The sets look like they’re made of cardboard and optimism. At one point, a background extra clearly forgets they’re supposed to be "in a home" and just stares directly into the camera lens for a solid three seconds. It’s great.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in The Duchess of Doubt, though that one at least had some breathing room. Here, everyone is just yelling about money. All the time. Does anyone actually like each other in this movie? It’s hard to tell.
I wouldn't say it's a lost classic. It's more like a lost receipt. Interesting to look at if you're curious about the era, but probably not something you'll finish if you have a pile of laundry to fold.
The lighting is weirdly flat, too. Almost like they were afraid of shadows. Everything is just… there. Exposed. No secrets, just guys losing money and yelling about it. 💸
Watch it for the history, skip it if you want a good time.