MartinHafer
When the film begins, the reporter Brad McKay (Lee Tracy) is doing what most reporters seem to do in films when they're not on assignment-- he's playing poker with the boys. While this is taking place, across town someone is ventilating the District Attorney's head with a .38 slug...so at least we know that the guys playing poker weren't responsible. But who is? And, like most B-crime films, it's inevitably that the fast-talking reporter knows infinitely more than the stupid cops...so it will be up to him to solve the case.This film is an interesting comedown for Tracy. Back in the 30s, he made films for several big studios, including Columbia and MGM. However, after a series of public embarrassments, Tracy's film work consisted of working for the crappiest studios...and it didn't get any crappier than PRC...who made this film. However, for a PRC film it's much better than usual...thanks mostly to Tracy as well as a halfway decent script...very unusual for PRC! Not a brilliant film but worth seeing and among the best PRC films I've seen. In other words, it surprisingly did not suck!
TanakaK
I agree with many of the previous comments about "The Payoff", although I'm just not that enthusiastic about it.The film is a page straight out of the part-crime-mystery / part-comedy genre of the day. It's true that the dialog is snappy and if you're in the mood it can be quite engaging. But it's also true that "The Payoff" is really more of a theatrical-style of presentation than film. Lee Tracy immediately goes over the top, and stays there, with a very stage-style performance. Too loud, too gestural, too self-entertaining, just plain "too". The other characters are mostly cliché, too.I wouldn't avoid The Payoff if you enjoy 40's urban crime features. It's a terrific feature if you're home sick and need to fill an hour. But I wouldn't go to any extraordinary measures to see it, either.
kidboots
Lee Tracy was huge pre 1934 but by the time of "The Payoff" bad behaviour and a drinking problem had just about finished his career. He may have looked older but this film certainly benefited from his peppy delivery.Chief Prosecutor Lloyd Pearson is gunned down by an unknown assassin. Brad McKay (Lee Tracy) "the best newspaper man in the country", becomes involved in the Pearson murder after police come after one of his poker buddies, Moroni (John Maxwell). He gives Moroni an alibi, but Moroni, (who is the real killer) sends him on a wild goose chase by telling him the killer is Hugh Walker - Pearson's assistant, who was disbarred for taking bribes. He also says Pearson was taking a payoff of $100,000. When Moroni is found dead, Brad meets Phyliss Walker (Tina Thayer), her father mysteriously goes missing and they find themselves at a gambling club run by John Angus (Jack LaRue). Evelyn Brent makes an extremely brief though very welcome appearance as Alma Dorn - a mystery woman, who doesn't seem to have much to do except to give Tracy a big kiss at the fadeout. Tom Brown, who never seemed to age - maybe that was the reason his career never took off - he always seemed like an over eager cub reporter which is what he played here.
dbborroughs
Lee Tracy plays Brad McKay a smart mouthed reporter loved, or at least respected by both the police and the criminals. When a reforming special prosecutor, who's work he had been covering, is killed McKay is thrust in to the thick of things since its assumed that he may have a clue as to who might have killed the man. Tracy, an expert at playing fast talking wisenheimers, is in great form here delivering a steady stream of pontifications and wise cracks that not only amuse but also bamboozle the people around him giving him room to solve the case. I really liked this film a great deal since its a rare that a B-movie of this type had so many witty lines and comedic comebacks, it's almost like being hit by a machine gun of jokes. Tracy is aided by a great cast of character actors who manage to make their roles into something more than pieces to be moved around the chess board. If there is real weakness in the movie its that it becomes pretty clear who the bad guy is much too early in the film (the problem is simply that there really isn't anyone else it could be).It's not fatal but it sort makes what happens a foregone conclusion. Despite its short comings this is a movie that you're going to watch for, especially if you like great dialog and witty exchanges.
AD
