Smart Money

Year: 1931

Runtime: 81 mins

Language: English

Director: Alfred E. Green

DramaCrimeCrime

A small‑town barber climbs the ranks to become a high‑rolling gambler, reveling in wealth and good looks until his obsession with a blonde woman jeopardizes his fortunes. He and his brother travel to the city for a gambling venture, but their gamble triggers a sudden, fateful twist.

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Timeline & Setting – Smart Money (1931)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Smart Money (1931). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Small-town, City, Florida

Nick runs a prosperous barber shop in a small town where backroom gambling thrives. He travels to a big city to challenge a famous gambler and to chase a larger stake, stepping into a world of illegal high-stakes games. The story also touches on Florida, where a real Hickory Short has just been released from prison, underscoring the reach of crime beyond a single city. The setting shifts from intimate local backrooms to sprawling urban gambling dens.

🏠 Small-town 🏙️ City 🌴 Florida

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:42

Main Characters – Smart Money (1931)

Meet the key characters of Smart Money (1931), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:42

Major Themes – Smart Money (1931)

Explore the central themes of Smart Money (1931), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:42

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Rise and Fall Crime Dramas like Smart Money

Stories of ambitious climbs to power followed by a devastating downfall.If you liked Smart Money, explore more movies about ambitious characters who climb to the top of a criminal enterprise only to experience a devastating fall. These stories share a gritty tone, high-stakes tension, and a focus on the consequences of ruthless ambition, perfect for fans of classic crime narratives.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a clear arc: an underdog or ambitious figure uses wit, ruthlessness, or charm to gain power and wealth within a high-risk world. The peak of their success is often short-lived, as a critical mistake, a personal obsession, or an act of betrayal triggers an unstoppable chain of events leading to their ultimate ruin.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their shared focus on the archetypal 'rise and fall' arc within a crime or underworld setting. They deliver a specific emotional mix of tense ambition, the thrill of success, and the grim inevitability of a downfall, creating a cohesive and compelling viewing pattern.

Movies about high-stakes gambling and betrayal like Smart Money

High-stakes worlds where trust is a liability and every bet can be your last.Fans of Smart Money will enjoy these films centered on high-stakes gambling, dangerous cons, and inevitable double-crosses. These movies create a tense, anxious mood where characters live by their wits but are often doomed by their obsessions or the treachery of others, delivering a gripping and fatalistic experience.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around characters who live by their skill in games of chance or deception. Their confidence is both their strength and weakness, leading them into situations where the stakes are life itself. The central conflict often stems from a central betrayal or a rigged game, turning the world against the protagonist and sealing their fate.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared mood of high-risk anxiety and their thematic focus on deception. They feature cunning protagonists in tense, unforgiving environments where the threat of a double-cross is constant, creating a cohesive vibe of ruthless competition and fatalistic outcomes.

Unlock the Full Story of Smart Money

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Smart Money Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Smart Money, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Smart Money Timeline

Track the full timeline of Smart Money with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Smart Money Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Smart Money

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