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The Public Pays

  • 1936
  • Approved
  • 19m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
273
YOUR RATING
The Public Pays (1936)
CrimeDramaShort

A protection racket preying on milk distribution is broken through the persistence of law enforcement and the courage of a local businessman.A protection racket preying on milk distribution is broken through the persistence of law enforcement and the courage of a local businessman.A protection racket preying on milk distribution is broken through the persistence of law enforcement and the courage of a local businessman.

  • Director
    • Errol Taggart
  • Writer
    • John C. Higgins
  • Stars
    • Richard Alexander
    • Barbara Bedford
    • Harry C. Bradley
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    273
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Errol Taggart
    • Writer
      • John C. Higgins
    • Stars
      • Richard Alexander
      • Barbara Bedford
      • Harry C. Bradley
    • 7User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win total

    Photos

    View Poster

    Top cast25

    Edit
    Richard Alexander
    Richard Alexander
    • Drunken Hood Who Knocks Over Milk Wagon
    • (uncredited)
    Barbara Bedford
    Barbara Bedford
    • Markovitz's Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Harry C. Bradley
    Harry C. Bradley
    • Grocer
    • (uncredited)
    Russ Clark
    • Officer Jerry
    • (uncredited)
    Betty Ross Clarke
    Betty Ross Clarke
    • Paige's Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    John Dilson
    John Dilson
    • Moore, Milk Company Executive
    • (uncredited)
    Bess Flowers
    Bess Flowers
    • Woman from the Relief Bureau
    • (uncredited)
    Karl Hackett
    Karl Hackett
    • Markovitz, Milk Company Executive
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Homans
    Robert Homans
    • Officer Donovan
    • (uncredited)
    George Humbert
    • Simonelli, Italian Milk Dealer
    • (uncredited)
    Cy Kendall
    Cy Kendall
    • Police Chief John Carney
    • (uncredited)
    Bert LeBaron
    Bert LeBaron
    • Racketeer
    • (uncredited)
    Boots Lebaron
    • Sonny
    • (uncredited)
    Ivan Miller
    Ivan Miller
    • Charles Paige
    • (uncredited)
    William Pawley
    • Kelly
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Puglia
    Frank Puglia
    • Moran's Hood
    • (uncredited)
    John Rice
    • Police Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Cap Somers
    • Police Officer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Errol Taggart
    • Writer
      • John C. Higgins
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

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    6.9
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    6.3
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    6.1
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    They're Always Caught
    6.5
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    Drunk Driving
    6.5
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    Forbidden Passage
    6.3
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    A Gun in His Hand
    6.4
    A Gun in His Hand
    Heavenly Music
    6.2
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    I Won't Play
    6.7
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    Footsteps in the Dark
    6.7
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    6.5
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The set for the crooks' office is the same one Clark Gable's character uses in Wife vs. Secretary (1936).
    • Goofs
      The police chief of the city where the crooks set up their racket says he thought such crimes were usually only found in big cities and not a small one like his. However, outside the window of the crooks' office can be seen New York skyscrapers.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      John Allgren, Department of Justice: Extortion demands good organization, clever brains, and much money, but extortion cannot operate against a brave man who faces down these parasites and goes to the police for help. He cannot be robbed!

    • Connections
      Followed by Torture Money (1937)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10

    Where Are The Little Children Getting The Extra Money For Their Milk?

    A protection racketeer comes to a small city in the Midwest and organizes a protection racket for the milk distributors: pay them a penny a bottle, raise the price three cents or you milk has some kerosene spilled in it. Of course we know this scheme will ultimately fail because CRIME DOES NOT PAY!

    It's a pretty good telling of the manner of such protection rackets, even if the gangsters all talk like well educated WASPs, even the one who speaks Italian. It's a well-paced, if rather talky short subject, with a well0deserved Oscar nomination.
    • boblipton
    • Sep 17, 2020
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 10, 1936 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Crime Does Not Pay No. 8: The Public Pays
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      19 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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