"Blood Money" is a noir mystery and drama set in Los Angeles in the early 1930s. This was during the Great Depression, but there's no sign of bread lines and people out of work here. One can imagine that the depression was felt much less in the film capital where movies were still being made to help raise the spirits of the public across the nation. Well, that included crime and murder flicks as well. While this one isn't about murder, it is one heck of a film that shows widespread corruption.
Just about everybody and anybody who is anybody is a friend of and probably on the take with Bill Bailey. The famed bail bondsman is played very well by George Bancroft. I can't think of another film that ever featured or touted a character who was a bail bondsman. Such roles barely get notice when they do appear in an occasional film.
But here, our "hero," while operating on the edge of the law - not clearly violating it, is a likable guy who is friends with all the police force, the judges and courts, and the city and state politicians. Bailey's girlfriend is Ruby Darling (played by Judith Anderson), who owns and runs an upscale speakeasy. Blossom Seeley plays the singer in her joint. Seeley was a famous singer who performed on vaudeville and in nightclubs, and this is just one of four films that she was in.
When Bailey gets a society gal out of a jam for shoplifting, he is smitten by her. Frances Dee plays Elaine Talbart. But she goes for any man who's exciting and winds up with Ruby's brother, Drury Darling, who's a master con-man and robber. Bailey has some problems when Ruby is jealous of his affections for Elaine, but in the end things might just work out
Lucille Ball has a small part in this film as one of Drury's girl friend's at the race track. Here are some favorite lines form this film.
Judge's Wife (Florence Roberts, uncredited), "Well, that Bill Bailey has a lot of nerve." Judge (Clarence Wilson, uncredited), "Mmm, yeah. But he's got a lot of influence too."
Butcher Weighing Sausages (Herman Bing, uncredited), "That was Bill Bailey. He just ordered one hundred and fifty turkeys for Thanksgiving." Butcher (Dewey Robins, uncredited), "For charity, huh?" Butcher with Sausage, "Yeah, sure, for our poor judges, our poor lawyers, and our poor police officers."
Racetrack Spectator (Dennis O'Keefe, uncredited), "You haven't picked a winner tonight, Bailey." Bill Bailey, "I make all my money off losers."
Ruby Darling, "Weren't you ever romantic?" Bill Bailey, "Heh, heh. Can you imagine a guy getting romantic in a reform school, hmmm?"
Bill Bailey, "As long as you have cities, you're bound to have vices. You can't control human nature by putting in a new mayor."
Bill Bailey, "The only difference between a liberal and a conservative man is that the liberal recognize the existence of vice and controls it, while the conservative just turns his back and pretends that it doesn't exist."
Bill Bailey, "The tougher the times, the better my business."
Bill Bailey, "Why, if you were dying and needed blood for a transfusion, I'd be the first one to give it." Ruby Darling, "So, the only way we can get together is to have a blood transfusion, huh?"
Ruby Darling, "I can remember when you thought a hamburger sandwich was a banquet. And you called a dinner a feast."
Bill Bailey, "And, don't forget - behind every Barnum there was always a Bailey."
