EASY MONEY

UK, 1948, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Edward Rigby, Greta Gynt, Dennis Price, Jack Warner, Mervyn Johns, Petula Clark, Marjorie Fielding, Bill Owen, Raymond Lovell.
Directed by Bernard Knowles.

Easy Money was produced by the Gainsborough Studios in the late '40s. Well-known for their costume melodramas, this is a contemporary story, moralising a little about the Pools and easy money. It gives a documentary kind of background about the Pools, gambling in England in 1946, 47 and 48. It highlights the issue of gambling by telling some human stories - with comic touches, with touches of melodrama. There are four stories, the first being the longest about a family presided over by Jack Warner and Marjorie Fielding (with one of the children Petula Clark) - a bit like the popular Huggetts comedies of the period. There is a melodrama with Dennis Price, a comedy with Mervyn Johns and another with Edward Rigby. Very dated - but with the crisp British style that makes it enjoyable to watch even half a century later.

1. The British style of film-making in the late '40s, the post-war atmosphere? Stories about the Pools and gambling? Moralising tone with entertainment?

2. Black and white photography, small budget? The English locations? Homes, towns? Nightclubs? The musical score?

3. The British cast, their popularity at the time? The popularity of films with several stories?

4. The Stafford family, their interest in the Pools, the portrait of the family? Philip, the father, work, expenses? The cricket club? Ruth, at home? Grandma living with them? Carol and her love for Martin, her work? Dennis and the war? The plans and the deal? Jackie at school? The winning of the Pools, Philip and the family at the table? Their plans? Philip and his going back in to the cricket, Ruth and her wanting to move to the coast, the clashes, her venting her anger about the past and her being treated as a slave in the home? Martin wanting to go overseas and break with Carol? Dennis and the dangerous deal - and the police arriving, the stolen goods, Philip telling the false story to get his son off after the warning? Grandma and her decision to stay - but then going when they didn't win the Pools? Jackie and the discovery, the change of heart in the family, glad they didn't win? And the irony that they would win after all (with the warnings of the possible dangers of money)?

5. Pat, the nightclub singer, wanting money, her boyfriend, persuading him to fix the Pools, his skill in doing it? The police, the management of the Pools and their handling of the situation? The false ticket, the confrontation with Pat, her arrogant attitude? Their employee and his denials? The five thousand pound cheque, Pat accepting it, sacking their employee, his going to Pat, their both being arrested?

6. Herbert, the shy man, winning the Pools, not wanting anyone to know? Henpecked by Agnes? Forcing him to be sociable? Forcing him to resign, his intimidation by the boss, his failure of nerve, talking to the passenger in the train, the plan and the bribe, his pretending the heart turn, the false doctor - and his actually dying?

7. Ted, playing in the orchestra, his being deaf? Being sacked? Winning the Pools, living the high life? Chats with Archie, missing the band? His decision to support the orchestra, the exasperation of the conductor - and his being a celebrity as well as finding friendship again?

8. Popular entertainment and moralising stories, British '40s style?