Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Not part of a collection.
Torture Money
In this MGM Crime Does Not Pay series short, police go after a fraud operation that stages automobile accidents to collect insurance money.
- Original title
- Torture Money
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
CinemaSerf
Jun 28, 2025 · via TMDB
This is quite a decent little ambulance chaser exposé, brought to us on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department. It’s all about people who fake road traffic accidents for the insurance money. There is quite a network behind the operation that sees the victims sign powers of attorney to allow their lawyer to do some horse-trading with insurers keen to avoid protracted legal proceedings. Once the deals are done, “Beacher” (Edwin Maxwell) keeps most of the cash and disburses percentages to the “victims” and the “witnesses”. The cops are getting wise to this scam as the total extorted approaches $100,000 and so put in an undercover officer (George Lynn) to infiltrate the gang and help catch them red handed. There’s never any doubt they will get their man, but along the way this is actually quite a horrible tale of just what people will do to get money. Scheming and conniving, yes, but also allowing themselves to be roughed up to look convincing when the ambulance arrived. A cheese grater is prominent! The production is all adequate enough and, of course, there is the resounding message at the end…
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
TCM
Edwin Maxwell
Milton Beacher
George Lynn
Larry Martin
Murray Alper
Little Davie Barkell (uncredited)
King Baggot
False Accident Witness (uncredited)
John Hamilton
Capt. Michael Karnahan (uncredited)
Raymond Hatton
Henchman (uncredited)
Bernadene Hayes
False Accident Victim Debbie (uncredited)
Mary Howard
Nurse Barry (uncredited)
Mitchell Lewis
False Accident Witness (uncredited)
Roger Moore
Cabbie (uncredited)
Jason Robards Sr.
Alex Carmathy (uncredited)
William Royle
Chief of Police (uncredited)
Charles Trowbridge
Dr. Morgan (uncredited)
Norman Willis
Henchman Doc (uncredited)
Harold S. Bucquet
Director
Double Indemnity
Mulholland Drive
Gattaca
They
The Lady from Shanghai
Driving Miss Daisy
Wall Street
The Sweet Hereafter
The Thomas Crown Affair
Fletch
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
The Car Thief
Crash
The Big White
The Beach Bum
The Infernal Trio
Armor
The Broken
Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
Žijí mezi námi
Double Indemnity
The Asphalt Jungle
Angel Face
Criss Cross
The Wrong Man
Plunder Road
The Big Combo
Pitfall
Nightfall
Little Caesar
Each Dawn I Die
The Unholy Three
The Running Man
Force of Evil
They Made Me a Fugitive
Cigarettes & Coffee
Johnny O'Clock
Knock on Any Door
House of Bamboo
5 Against the House
Jan 2, 1937
