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Easy Money (GFD 1948, Dennis Price, Jack Warner)

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In the days before the National Lottery, everyone wanted to win the football pools, and that’s the theme of portmanteau of stories Easy Money. Four diverse tales reflect the differing fortunes for people who come into a fortune by picking eight score draws on a Saturday afternoon.

Each story is directed by Bernard Knowles, arguably best known for his work as a cinematographer with Alfred Hitchcock in the 1930s on such classics as The 39 Steps. The cast blends household names of the time – Jack Warner, Dennis Price, Edward Rigby – with relative newcomers – David Tomlinson, Petula Clark, Bill Owen – who became well known in later years.

The first story is a comedy about the Stafford family (led by father Jack Warner) who experience a gamut of emotions when they believe they’ve won the pools, falling out with each other over their newly gained fortune. Then daughter Jackie (Petula Clark) realises she’s not posted the coupon. The second story features a meek office worker, Herbert Atkins (Mervyn Johns), who is afraid to tell his boss that he wants to quit having won a fortune. Then he comes up with an outrageous scheme, involving being declared unfit for work by a fake doctor, which has tragic consequences.

The third segment, also a drama, features a pools company clerk, Joe (Dennis Price), coerced into faking a winning entry by his girlfriend (Greta Gynt). Joe falls under suspicion when the pools company investigators pay his girlfriend a visit. Finally, the fourth story is another comedy, about a dispirited double bass player who discovers he’s won the pools while on the music stand during a concert. He resigns and enjoys the high life, but still keeps in touch with a colleague, Archie (Guy Rolfe). When he hears that his old orchestra is in financial straits and may be disbanded, he comes up with a novel solution.

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‘A vast public interest in football pools ensures that everyone will want to see this film about their favourite pastime,’ advertisers claimed at the time.

production details
UK / GFD / 94 minutes / 1948

Director: Bernard Knowles
Writers: Muriel and Sydney Box (based on the play by Arnold Ridley),

cast
Dennis Price as Joe Henty
Jack Warner as Philip Stafford
Mervyn Johns as Herbert Atkins
Bill Owen as Mr. Lee
Marjorie Fielding as Ruth Stafford
Jack Watling as Dennis Stafford
Petula Clark as Jackie Stafford
Mabel Constanduros as Grandma Stafford
Greta Gynt as Pat Parsons
Joan Young as Agnes Atkins
Gordon McLeod as Mr. Cameron
Grey Blake as Wilson
Edward Rigby as Edward Ball
Guy Rolfe as Archie
Raymond Lovell as Cyprus, the conductor
Maurice Denham as Detective-Inspector Kirby
David Tomlinson as Martin Latham

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Alastair James is the editor in chief for Memorable TV. He has been involved in media since his university days. Alastair is passionate about television, and some of his favourite shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Traitors. He is always on the lookout for hot new shows, and is always keen to share his knowledge with others.

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