Money Means Nothing

Gloria Shea tries to communicate with Wallace Ford in a auto supply store and tries different car horns to attract his attention. She settles on one that sounds suspiciously like the notes used in 'Close Encounters'. If Steven Spielberg is a film historian, I wonder if this scene stuck in his mind. This film reminds me of 'My Man Godfrey' in that a rich socialite is trying to attract a common man. This is the first film I can remember with Gloria Shea & she seem to be a formidable actress. She carries her first scene in the film quite well. You would have to ask Spielberg is he sees similarities between Shea & Capshaw. I don't know if this film qualifies as a 'Meet Cute', but I would think so. The comedy reminds me of Laurel & Hardy.

Browsing today through one of my favorite places to buy DVDs, in the used section was a single, lonely new DVD still wrapped with the price of 99 cents. The film was called "Money Means Nothing", a title that meant nothing to me. Oh well, for that price, even if the film was a real stinker, all I would be out would be the buck. What a surprise to find a lively little programmer with a good story (based on a play), good acting and surprisingly good production values for Monogram Pictures. Gloria Shea, who I have barely heard of turned in a nice performance as the rich girl newly married to a poor boy, equally well played by Wallace Ford. Edgar Kennedy and Maidel Turner are hilarious as the newlywed's neighbors who are just a little too crude for the bride's family. Former silent star Betty Blythe plays the bride's Mother a bit like Billie Burke or Helen Broderick would if the film had been shot at MGM or RKO. With a running time of 64 minutes, you could find worse ways to spend an hour.

Okay programmer from budget-conscious Monogram. The first half includes a lot of low-brow humor, while the second half gets more dramatic. Julie (Shea) is a pretty but naive daughter of a wealthy family. However, she's unhappy with their rigid ways and wants to strike out on her own. Trouble is she has a sheltered girl's view of money thinking it's not important at all. So when she falls in love with working class guy Ken (Ford), she doesn't care that he's soon unemployed. After all, money isn't important; love will get them by. But then, he can't get a job (it is Depression era 1934), so she's due to learn one of life's important lessons the hard way.

Actress Shea's a good choice for the spunky air-headed daughter. Pretty, but not glamorous, she adds lower key spark to the often over-the-top humor. Ford's okay as a truck driver, but his manner and appearance made me wonder how Julie could get so attached. Too bad the Green's (Kennedy & Turner) are boisterously over-done, but I guess it works at a certain level when they get a comeuppance. What sort of interested me is how the premise could be turned into an intriguing drama of an upper-class girl learning the brute realities of working-class life. Here that gets an overlay of comedy; nonetheless, the dramatic potential is there.

Anyway, director Cabanne keeps the script moving, so you won't be bored no matter the flaws.

Poor tire salesman Wallace Ford (as Kenneth "Ken" McKay) meets rich blonde Gloria Shea (as Julie Ferris) when the two are involved in a car accident. They fall in love, but Mr. Ford worries about money. Believing "Money Means Nothing", Ms. Shea proposes to Ford and he accepts. The Brooklyn couple discovers hard economic truths. Eventually, tire thieves involved in the opening accident return to cause more trouble. When things get dull (which is most of the movie), boisterous neighbors Edgar Kennedy and Maidel Turner liven it up. Also teamed effectively are 1920s "vamp" Betty Blythe and tired son Eddie Tamblyn. One continuous camera tracking movement is used nicely, early in the running time.

*** Money Means Nothing (6/15/34) Christy Cabanne ~ Wallace Ford, Gloria Shea, Edgar Kennedy, Maidel Turner

"Suggested" by The Cost of Living, according to the opening credits... a play from way back. The sound and photography are pretty shaky, but a hundred years later, this is one we're still lucky to have around at all. The sound is WAY off from the actors saying the lines. Badly in need of restoration. Some rich folks get held up on the side of the road. Co-stars Wallace Ford and Gloria Shea, as young lovers Kenny and Julie. Not much of a plot, really. Girl tries to get family to like boyfriend, even though he's having a hard time finding a job. Directed by Chris Cabanne, who apparently was known as "the dullest director in pictures", and I can see why. Slowwww.. ain't no big thang. Film showing on "Comedy Films" Channel.... haven't seen this one on Turner Classics. Only 40 votes at this point in time.