Easy Money (1948 film)


Easy Money is a 1948 British satirical film about one of the most beloved traditions of the English, the football pools, is composed of four tales about the effect a major win has on four different groups in the post-war period. Written by Muriel and Sydney Box and directed by Bernard Knowles, it was released by Gainsborough Pictures.

Plot

In the first story, a comedy, a content suburban family, headed by Jack Warner, is turned into an unhappy lot when they believe that they have the winning coupon in the football pools. But when it's discovered that the winning coupon apparently wasn't mailed by the younger daughter, they regain their previously happy lives that had been made unhappy by plans they made regarding how to spend their winnings. Then, when it is discovered that the winning coupon was, in fact, mailed, they decide that they have learned their lesson and resolve not to let the money ruin their happiness.
The second is more tragic, with a mild-mannered clerk concerned about quitting his mundane job.
The third is a suspenseful crime caper involving a coupon checker and his nightclub singer girlfriend who devise a scheme to embezzle the winning pot.
The final episode, another comedy, concerns a dispirited bass player who discovers he misses the orchestra he left.

Cast

Critics at the time noted the film was faintly reminiscent of the all-star 1932 Hollywood release If I Had a Million. It earned mixed reviews, but proved to be popular with audiences – still reeling from the effects of World War II – seeking lighthearted entertainment.
The film earned a profit of £2,200.