Soak the Old

Like the other shorts from the Crime Does Not Pay series, this one begins with a convincing introduction by a US government official. The problem is, like these other films, the official is a fake--just an actor posing as one!

"Soak the Old" begins with a well-meaning man (Ralph Morgan) campaigning for pension funds for workers. His appeal is quite convincing and tons of workers sign up for this plan. However, he and the workers don't realize that the pension fund is run by mobsters who have no intention of paying off on claims. In one particular case, an old man puts his money in and just a day later, they claim that he NEVER put his money into the plan--in effect, stealing it. Can these creeps be stopped? Although I am not sure of it, I wonder if this film actually was a poke at unions and their pension funds. While the word 'union' is never used, Louis B. Mayer's hatred of unions and labor organization would seem to lend some credence to this. Again, I am not sure--but it sure looks like it.

Overall, reasonably well made and enjoyable but a step or so below average for the series.