Payment Deferred (1932)

(On Cable TV, September 2022) I had to watch Payment Deferred three times before getting to the end of it. Part of it had to do with going to bed too late and then falling asleep in front of the TV the next day—but part of it also had to do with the film being less interesting than anticipated, executed in the monotonous, monochromatic, monaural style of most early-1930s films. What bright spot it has is Charles Laughton in the lead role, as a meek bank clerk who accidentally benefits from an impulsive murder (Pre-Code !). While the incident has its financial rewards, things soon spin out of control as the wages of sin come knocking, and murder tends to be a solution to many, many problems. Somehow billed as a comedy in the TV guide, Payment Deferred ends up being a very, very mild thriller. Despite a running time under 80 minutes (depending on the version you watch), it feels rather long and ordinary—although that may just be me waiting for the promised comedy to kick in. I eventually finished it from beginning to end, but the effort may not have been worth it.