Lowell Sherman was a very versatile man in the world of early film. He was successful in both silents and talkies. He could play a dastardly heel (Sanderson in Way Down East) as well as a good hearted man, as seen in this film. He could act, direct, or both, as he does in The Pay-Off. There were a few issues with the film, mainly due to it being from 1930 - the dialogue is sometimes fuzzy and tough to hear, and at some points, some of the actors overact, as was typical for an early talkie. Still, the film is very good for a 1930 talkie. Sherman's performance is magnificent, as his acting seems as natural as can be, as though he'd been making talkies for years. The film is just over an hour and moves at a quick pace to keep the viewer interested. There's a mix of older and younger actors in the film, and as a whole, the acting is pretty good. Overall the film is an 8/10 and definitely worth watching.
Review of The Pay-Off
