The Pay Off ~ 1930 -BW

QUICKIE: I keep trying to get out and they keep pulling me back in....

PLOT: A thug robs a young engaged couple of their last few dollars. When the thug's gang boss hears of the robbery, he gives them back their money and takes them under his wing. The thug, resentful of the couple, plans to organize a mutiny against the gang's boss, but when he kills a man in a botched robbery and the police focus their attention on the young couple. This leads to a deadly confrontation with the boss, which leads the gang to turn on the boss.

SUMMARY: This is a good movie and raises some interesting questions. Like how can a couple of innocent kids be so unbelievably STUPID? If a guy robs you, it's a sure bet that he's not a nice guy. Even if later he says it was just a joke, don't believe him. Even if he gives you money to buy your wedding ring, don't take it. PDMRB rule #10: Some guys are just mean. Especially if their name is anything similar to Rocky, Duke, King, Killer, Slash, Muscles, Throat slitter, or Tony. Here, Rocky is our mean guy. He robs the young kids, frames them in a jewelery heist, and trys to oust the mob boss. The boss is changed by the kids' innocence and he wants to retire, but how exactly does one quit the racket? The mob usually won't let one retire, except permanently. So Gene (the boss) struggles with his feelings for the kids, falling in love with the girl, and wanting to go straight. The ending leads to the kids getting framed for the murder in the botched jewelery heist and Gene comes through as a good chap in the end. Sacrificing himself for the kids. Aww. Always the happy ending: the bad guys always get busted and the couple gets married. YAY!