This is a predictable film in the Crime Does Not Pay series produced by MGM during the gangster era. It deals with insurance scams, and the word "torture" in the title is not very descriptive. The movie won an Oscar for best 2-reel short, and it is one of the better shorts in the MGM series. Still, I only gave it a 7 because it doesn't really stand out in any way.
7 Reviews
A nasty scam
Paularoc28 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
A Crime Does Not Pay Subject. This short begins with a written introduction by James Davis, Chief of Police of L.A. endorsing the film. A corrupt lawyer has quite a scam going in staging auto accidents and then getting money from insurance companies. The lawyer's gang members are the false witnesses, drivers, and victims. The accident victim has the toughest job - before the accident the gang's doctor injures him, including sometimes breaking his arm. A cop goes undercover and infiltrates the gang. It's a pretty grim episode where a little girl is killed in one of the staged accidents and the scene where the "victims" are badly injured in preparation for the staged accident is brutal. A good entry in the series.
won an Oscar
SnoopyStyle10 July 2021
MGM has another A Crime Does Not Pay Subject. The crime in this one is insurance fraud. An insurance investigator starts to have suspicions. He tells the authorities and they investigate the insurance fraud ring.
I can't believe that this won an Oscar. The plot leaves a few too many questions to be that good. It starts with the questionable title. I question the need for the injuries. I question the manpower of the police. It's not even the best of this series. It's average at best. It needs a better way to tackle this subject matter.
I can't believe that this won an Oscar. The plot leaves a few too many questions to be that good. It starts with the questionable title. I question the need for the injuries. I question the manpower of the police. It's not even the best of this series. It's average at best. It needs a better way to tackle this subject matter.
Crime Does Not Pay
Michael_Elliott3 February 2009
Torture Money (1937)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Oscar-winning MGM short from their Crime Does Not Pay series. This episode takes a look at a group who are staging car wrecks so that they can sue the insurance company as well as the city. An undercover cop eventually breaks into the gang to determine how they're pulling the scam. This series is among my favorite and this here is one of the better episodes out there. There's isn't too much drama this time around but what we do get is a very entertaining story and I must admit I was captivated by the story. The way the scam is carried out was rather interesting and the direction really pulls everything together. The cast is pretty amazing as well as we get character actors Edwin Maxwell, George Lynn, Raymond Hutton and Roger Moore (no, not that one). Most of these actors are now forgotten but if you look up there credits you'll notice that they've appeared in several memorable movies. King Baggott, who played Jekyll and Hyde in the 1913 version, also appears as one of the witnesses.
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Oscar-winning MGM short from their Crime Does Not Pay series. This episode takes a look at a group who are staging car wrecks so that they can sue the insurance company as well as the city. An undercover cop eventually breaks into the gang to determine how they're pulling the scam. This series is among my favorite and this here is one of the better episodes out there. There's isn't too much drama this time around but what we do get is a very entertaining story and I must admit I was captivated by the story. The way the scam is carried out was rather interesting and the direction really pulls everything together. The cast is pretty amazing as well as we get character actors Edwin Maxwell, George Lynn, Raymond Hutton and Roger Moore (no, not that one). Most of these actors are now forgotten but if you look up there credits you'll notice that they've appeared in several memorable movies. King Baggott, who played Jekyll and Hyde in the 1913 version, also appears as one of the witnesses.
This brief film provides some nifty ideas about how . . .
tadpole-596-91825611 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
. . . enterprising people can exploit some of the openings provided by Big Insurance to make a quick buck. TORTURE MONEY also performs a valuable service in detailing a few of the mistakes to avoid when you set out to capitalize on America's convoluted legal system. However, this results in the sort of "downer" finale which may deter all but the most intrepid patriot souls from their pursuit of the American Dream.
The Flop Artists
boblipton6 October 2019
Edwin Maxwell is a crooked lawyer with a well-organized racket. He sends out members of his large gang to organize an 'accident', with plenty of witnesses, then settles profitably with the insurance company. Little does he know that the insurance companies have detected his fraud and Captain John Hamilton and his mustache have sent in policeman George Lynn to infiltrate the gang. The audience can be certain of one thing: Crime Does Not Pay!
The long-running MGM series was still pretty new at this point, which is probably why this mediocre entry wound up with an Oscar in one of the short subject categories. It's hard to get people upset about insurance fraud. True, it can run into millions of dollars (these days, billions), but people think of the bill being paid by the insurance companies. Ah, but where do the insurance companies get that money? From you and you and you, Mr. And Mrs. Audience Member!
I still am surprised at its win. Perhaps there were several insurance company owners in the Academy in those days.
The long-running MGM series was still pretty new at this point, which is probably why this mediocre entry wound up with an Oscar in one of the short subject categories. It's hard to get people upset about insurance fraud. True, it can run into millions of dollars (these days, billions), but people think of the bill being paid by the insurance companies. Ah, but where do the insurance companies get that money? From you and you and you, Mr. And Mrs. Audience Member!
I still am surprised at its win. Perhaps there were several insurance company owners in the Academy in those days.
An Oscar-winner
planktonrules4 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The "Crime Does Not Pay" series from MGM was very good--and far more realistic in portraying police procedures and forensics than you'd normally see in feature films. So, it's not surprising that "Torture Money" ended up winning and Oscar for Best Short Subject, Two-reel.
The program is about a gang of thieves who stage accidents and claim insurance money (a problem that still is happening today). The cops know what is happening but cannot do anything about it. After all, although the 'victims' all have police records, they can't establish that they really weren't hurt in each instance. So, it's up to some undercover work--and one brave man infiltrates the gang to get the goods on them. The problem is that his cover is compromised....so what's next? See the film and find out for yourself.
While I would agree with the other reviewer that this isn't the best of the shorts in the series, it is still quite good and well worth seeing. Well written and acted--with a timely plot that held my interest.
The program is about a gang of thieves who stage accidents and claim insurance money (a problem that still is happening today). The cops know what is happening but cannot do anything about it. After all, although the 'victims' all have police records, they can't establish that they really weren't hurt in each instance. So, it's up to some undercover work--and one brave man infiltrates the gang to get the goods on them. The problem is that his cover is compromised....so what's next? See the film and find out for yourself.
While I would agree with the other reviewer that this isn't the best of the shorts in the series, it is still quite good and well worth seeing. Well written and acted--with a timely plot that held my interest.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
