THE MONEY TRAP
US, 1965, 91 minutes, Black and White.
Glenn Ford, Ricardo Montalban, Rita Hayworth, Elke Sommer, Joseph Cotten.
Directed by Burt Kennedy.
The Money Trap is a cynical-style police thriller in which most of the main characters are in some way evil or corrupt, or show that potential. The title is important. Glenn Ford is always effective in this kind of central role. Noteworthy is a cameo performance by Rita Hayworth when she had certainly passed her prime and did not look at all glamorous. It reminded audiences that she and Ford had made a very glamorous couple in the 40s and 50s with such films as Gilda and Affair in Trinidad. The Money Trap was directed by Burt Kennedy - more noted for his short westerns and his comedy westerns, for instance The Rounders (with Ford) and such classics as Support Your Local Sheriff, The Good Guys and the Bad Guys.
1. Quality as a crime and police thriller? In the tradition of gangster and crime films? Style of the 60s and treatment?
2. Black and white photography, jazz style musical score, Panavision, pace?
3. The impact of the stars and their styles? Glenn Ford and an ageing Rita Hayworth?
4. The significance of the title, its indication of themes and the way the theme was developed? The comments on money and its effects on each of the main characters? How was it illustrated in the case of ice and his attitude towards his wife, his rich life, the pressures of expectations? On Pete and his disillusionment with his work and his greed? On the doctor and his shady dealings? On Rosie and the death of her husband? On Lisa and her having wealth and not being selfish?
5. The picture of police work, the opening with the brothel, the hanging and the revelation about the wife? The detective work in tracking the father? The sequence of the interview with the aunt, following the aunt to the fairground on the child's birthday and their allowing the father to enjoy the day with his daughter? The ordinariness of police work, the attitude of officialdom towards crooked cops? The comments about people taking police for granted and being hostile to them?
6. The portrayal of justice, the role of the police and protection? Pete and his disillusionment, his ideals and his being blatant about his desires? Joe more subtle?
7. Glenn Ford's portrait of Joe and what might have been? His marrying Lisa, the bonds between the two, wealthy way of life, sexuality? His reactions to being supported by his wife, taunts? Potential jealousies? Yet his double standards because of his attitude towards Rosie and spending the night with her? Memories of her? His ambitions to be a lawyer? His attitude towards the case, towards the doctor, the safe combination from the dying criminal? Why did he keep silent and pursue the case? Greed, motivations for robbery? His attitude towards Pete in being in on the deal? His comment that he was not a good thief?
8. The portrayal of Joe as human, a combination of good and evil, his relationship with people, as a policeman?
9. Lisa as the glamorous type? The only seemingly good character in the film? Her reaction to Joe and to the situation with Pete, her support of him at the end? Her comments about her selfishness?
10. The contrast with Rosie? Why had she gone downhill, the initial encounter with Joe at the cafe, their discussion and memories of the past, nostalgia for a past that was lost? Their night together, her giving the information? The reason for her phone call, the atmosphere of her final drunken walk and her memories on the roof? The moment of her death and looking at Joe?
11. The credibility of the doctor and his practice, his having the money, heroin? His brutal assistant? The atmosphere of shady wealth, connections, setting up Pete and ice, the shootings? The inevitable deaths?
12. A glimpse of society, evil in society?
