Quick Millions

In his second film Spencer Tracy could have been typecast the rest of his career on the strength of his performance in Quick Millions. Fortunately for him he wasn't, but he's pretty nigh unforgettable here.

Long before Jimmy Hoffa came around, Spencer Tracy got the idea in this film that if truck drivers could be organized there was a lot of money to be made for the one who did it. With the support of girl Sally Eilers who wants a taste of the good life too in those Depression years, Tracy gets a whole lot of people under his thumb. As he shows what can one do without material being delivered. One can't sell produce or build buildings without the material at hand. Jimmy Hoffa would have liked the way Tracy's character Bugs Raymond thinks.

But Hoffa sure would not have liked the way Tracy obsesses over society girl Marguerite Churchill. She's the sister of John Wray from whom he extorted a partnership in the building trades via his truck union. That obsession is what leads to his downfall.

Quick Millions was also the second film for George Raft who plays Tracy's bodyguard and trigger man. Raft also does an occasional freelance job and that is what does him in as well. Raft would have to wait another year for his breakout role in support of Paul Muni in Scarface in a similar role as in Quick Millions.

One of the few gangster films of the era that specifically does not deal with Prohibition, Quick Millions is an early example of labor racketeering shown on film. And it's a great early work for Spencer Tracy.

Roland Brown the director was a hell of a guy. He had ties with the underworld, was a boxing sparring partner for Jack Dempsey, he knocked down a producer.... So, he was not the common bland film maker. This one is his first film, the first of a short list of features. It is a light hearted crime drama, but not a comedy. Not a pure gangster film either. However I was so surprised to see Spencer Tracy co starring George Raft, one year before SCARFACE. Spencer Tracy in a role not so far from Sylvester Stallone in F. I. S. T, a bleak character. But I would have prefered a grittier movie. I expected a bit more from Rowland Brown, maybe because of his reputation, hard boiled reputation.

Spencer Tracy stars as Bugs Raymond, a Jimmy Hoffa-like leader of a trucker's union*, just like the Teamsters. Using many illegal tactics (such as selling 'protection', thefts and violence), he rises to the head of the union and makes himself rich as a result. His right-hand man in all this is Jimmy (George Raft) and the pair live like kings after several years of racketeering. Much of it is because they have the goods of various public officials whose jobs SHOULD include putting thugs like Bugs and Jimmy in prison! Is there anyone to stop them or curb their abuses?

It's interesting to watch this film because of Tracy and Raft. Tracy is playing a jerk role--the sort he often played for Fox Studio but stopped making when he switched to MGM in the later 1930s. As for Raft, seeing and hearing him is interesting, as he simply doesn't SOUND like the George Raft you'll see in later movies. His voice is higher and less menacing....and he must have taken some classes on diction and voice following this movie.

So is it any good? Yes. And, it makes for a different sort of gangster film...which were all the rage in the early 1930s. It's gritty, extremely cynical and tough to stop watching. While not nearly as famous as "Little Caesar", "Public Enemy" or "Scarface", all from this same era, it's about as interesting to watch though a bit more subtle and believable.

By the way, at the 55 minute mark, pay CLOSE attention. A guy uses the middle finger...and it's NOT an accident! After all, it was made during the Pre-Code era...and giving the finger is certainly NOT something you'd see in Hollywood films for decades after July, 1934, when the new Production Code was enacted! For another single-digit salute, watch "Parachute Jumper"--where Frank McHugh does the same as he's trying to hitchhike.



*Although the film looks like an indictment of Hoffa and the Teamsters, Hoffa didn't even begin his career with the trucker's union until a year AFTER this film was made! It's almost like the film was written with a crystal ball!!

Joining the other major studios during the early thirties in producing hardhitting gangster melodramas, Fox rushed their newest contract star into his second film. In Quick Millions Spencer Tracy plays a truckdriver who is just a bit more clever than his comrades and desires the easy life.In short order he sets about organizing the other city truckers and eventually eases out the racketeers until he, himself, becomes the labor boss to be reckoned with. Along the way to success Tracy's character begins to undergo changes and his desires ever grander.Sally Eilers, his faithful girl is shunted aside for the favors of society beauty Marguerite Churchill; fellow racketeers and pals begin to suspect his ability to lead and of course numerous enemies are plotting his downfall.

The action of the film does not rely so much upon shocking rub-outs (the way Little Caesar and Scarface had the same year) but the gradual degeneration of Tracy's morality and relationships. The picture was successful enough to quickly establish Tracy as a strong screen presence and won plaudits for first-time director Rowland Brown. Warner Richmond is great as Tracy's nemesis as are George Raft and Bob Burns(not so lovable in this one). Watch for Ward Bond and Edgar Kennedy.

See this wonderful gem when you can but, remember like so many early Fox films before 1935, it's tough to find.

"Quick Millions" is a shadow of better gangster films made the same year (Public Enemy and Little Caesar) but for all its awkwardness it grows with the viewing and is better the second time around.

Aesthetically, it is not an important film and explores only familiar territory. Still, there are unexpected delicious moments. The studio seemed to be trying to make Spencer Tracy into James Cagney with this turn as a racketeer trying to class himself up.

In film history, "Quick Millions" is important. It was Tracy's first starring role, and he needed it badly. It's not a common character for him and yet his skills at underplaying are clear and marvelous. For George Raft, who looks totally GQ in his every scene, this film was the direct reason he landed a similar henchman role in the terrific "Scarface," which proved to be his breakthrough. It also got him his contract with Paramount. Despite a rough beginning, Tracy and Raft became good friends while filming "Quick Millions." It's an interesting aspect, almost an unconscious battle of screen chemistry. Just try to keep your eyes off Raft doing absolutely nothing in the background except shifting his weight while you're supposed to be paying attention to Tracy's important dialogue with other characters.

What works: Great lighting direction during the holdup at the "testimonial dinner." Focus on Raft's legs while dancing at a party, which initially seems to be just showing off his deft moves but in fact is leading up to the next time we see his legs in a brilliantly shot murder scene. Surprising musical interludes. Tracy incorrigible and so believable in carrying the film.

What does not work: Ham-fisted camera work - even in '31 cinematography was advanced beyond this clumsiness. Long-winded anti-racketeering speeches. While dialogue is often sharp, the storytelling leaves gaps.

And watch out for a flip of the bird.