1932
Tom Dickson, the liberal-minded president of Union National Bank, faces opposition from his conservative board of directors who disapprove of his character-based lending practices and his hiring of Matt Brown, a former thief turned chief teller. While the board plots to oust Dickson, bank cashier Cyril Cluett, deeply in debt to racketeers, is coerced by gangster Dude Finlay into helping them rob the bank, using his affair with Dickson's neglected wife, Phyllis, as an alibi. The robbery occurs, resulting in the death of a watchman, and Matt is implicated due to his presence at Cluett's apartment where he witnessed Cluett and Phyllis together, leading to his arrest and a massive run on the bank as rumors of its instability spread. As the bank teeters on the brink of collapse, Cluett confesses his involvement and Phyllis admits her affair, devastating Dickson, but Matt and Helen, Dickson's secretary and Matt's love interest, rally the community to make deposits, restoring public confidence and saving the bank.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Bank cashier Matt Brown works under liberal President Tom Dickson, who faces ouster for risky loans.
Open full beat sheetMatt Brown is listed as Chief Teller. Young, personable, former thief turned bank employee. In the parsed data, Matt Brown is connected to 27 scenes, 77 dialogue lines, 79 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
27 scenes / 77 dialogue linesTom Dickson is listed as Bank President. Robust, personable, liberal-minded banker who believes in character-based lending. In the parsed data, Tom Dickson is connected to 25 scenes, 146 dialogue lines, 151 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
25 scenes / 146 dialogue linesHelen is listed as Secretary. Dickson's secretary, Matt's love interest. In the parsed data, Helen is connected to 21 scenes, 46 dialogue lines, 55 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
21 scenes / 46 dialogue linesCyril Cluett is listed as Bank Cashier. Immaculately groomed, gambler, involved with racketeers. In the parsed data, Cyril Cluett is connected to 16 scenes, 65 dialogue lines, 66 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
16 scenes / 65 dialogue linesClark is listed as Director. Sour-faced, conservative director opposed to Dickson's methods. In the parsed data, Clark is connected to 16 scenes, 27 dialogue lines, 31 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
16 scenes / 27 dialogue linesPhyllis Dickson is listed as Tom Dickson's Wife. Refined, cultured, feels neglected by her husband's work. In the parsed data, Phyllis Dickson is connected to 14 scenes, 60 dialogue lines, 60 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.
14 scenes / 60 dialogue linesCharlie is listed as Teller. Teller, colleague of Matt. In the parsed data, Charlie is connected to 12 scenes, 21 dialogue lines, 26 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
12 scenes / 21 dialogue linesJonathan Ives is listed as Director. Meek, elderly director. In the parsed data, Jonathan Ives is connected to 12 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
12 scenes / 8 dialogue linesSampson is listed as Bank Executive. Bank official. In the parsed data, Sampson is connected to 11 scenes, 31 dialogue lines, 36 text mentions, first appearing around scene 35.
11 scenes / 31 dialogue linesSchultz is listed as Director. German director, conservative. In the parsed data, Schultz is connected to 11 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
11 scenes / 13 dialogue linesAmes is listed as Director. Conservative director. In the parsed data, Ames is connected to 11 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
11 scenes / 5 dialogue linesO'Brien is listed as Director. Bull-faced contractor, defends Dickson. In the parsed data, O'Brien is connected to 9 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
9 scenes / 5 dialogue linesOscar is listed as Teller. Young teller, prone to dramatic reactions. In the parsed data, Oscar is connected to 7 scenes, 23 dialogue lines, 25 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
7 scenes / 23 dialogue linesDude Finlay is listed as Gangster. Tough, menacing racketeer. In the parsed data, Dude Finlay is connected to 6 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
6 scenes / 8 dialogue linesEstablishing shot of the Union National Bank building.
Close up of the bank's brass sign.
Employees enter the bank foyer.
Opening of the bank's daily operations.
Telephone operator handles calls.
Tellers wait for Oscar to open the vault.
Oscar, CharlieMatt arrives and opens the vault.
Matt BrownTellers enter the vault to retrieve cash.
Matt Brown, CharlieMatt turns off the alarm.
Matt BrownTellers sign out their cash.
Matt Brown, CharlieMatt asks Charlie for a loan.
Matt Brown, CharlieMatt continues to pester Charlie for money.
Matt Brown, CharlieHelen greets Matt.
Matt Brown, HelenDirectors arrive at the bank.
Helen, ClarkDirectors discuss Dickson's management.
Cyril Cluett, Clark, Schultz, O'Brien, Jonathan Ives, AmesDirectors discuss Dickson's questionable loan practices and his hiring of Matt Brown.
Clark, Schultz, Ames, Matt Brown, Jonathan IvesMatt and Helen flirt at the teller cage until Oscar interrupts with rumors about Dickson's job security.
Matt Brown, Helen, OscarThe directors organize their plan to oust Dickson.
Jonathan Ives, Clark, Schultz, Ames, O'BrienDickson arrives at the bank and interacts with staff and Bill Saunders.
Tom Dickson, Matt Brown, CharlieDickson handles various office matters, including a call from his wife and a loan request from Mrs. Pembroke.
Tom Dickson, HelenDickson enters the board meeting and deflects the directors' seriousness with golf talk.
Tom Dickson, Jonathan Ives, ClarkThe bank lobby is busy with customers and staff. Three gangsters arrive and observe the bank's operations, specifically watching Charlie count money.
Charlie, Cyril Cluett, Dude FinlayHelen and another secretary observe the gangsters entering Cluett's office and express fear.
HelenDickson defends his liberal banking policies against the board of directors.
Tom Dickson, Clark, Schultz, O'Brien, Jonathan Ives, AmesDude Finlay pressures Cluett to help them rob the bank to pay off his gambling debts.
Cyril Cluett, Dude FinlayPhyllis Dickson visits the bank to see her husband.
Helen, Phyllis DicksonThe gangsters prepare to leave, instructing Cluett to establish an alibi.
Cyril Cluett, Dude FinlayCluett is coerced by Dude Finlay to act as an alibi, then is visited by Mrs. Dickson who flirts with him.
Cyril Cluett, Dude Finlay, Phyllis DicksonDickson defies his board of directors regarding bank policy.
Tom Dickson, Clark, Schultz, O'Brien, Jonathan Ives, AmesCluett manipulates Phyllis into agreeing to a meeting, then kisses her as Matt enters.
Cyril Cluett, Phyllis Dickson, Matt BrownMatt is summoned by Dickson while in a daze from what he witnessed.
Matt Brown, Helen, Tom DicksonDickson promotes Matt, then Phyllis enters.
Tom Dickson, Matt Brown, Phyllis DicksonDickson celebrates his day with his wife, then dismisses Matt to work.
Tom Dickson, Phyllis Dickson, Matt BrownMatt tells Helen about seeing Cluett and Mrs. Dickson together.
Matt Brown, HelenDickson makes plans for Philadelphia, upsetting his wife, then reconciles.
Tom Dickson, Phyllis Dickson, Helen, SampsonTellers close up; Matt and Helen discuss Cluett.
Matt Brown, Charlie, Helen, Cyril CluettCluett takes Mrs. Dickson to his apartment.
Cyril Cluett, Phyllis DicksonCluett and Mrs. Dickson arrive at his door.
Cyril Cluett, Phyllis DicksonCluett and Mrs. Dickson arrive at his apartment, followed by a confrontation with Matt.
Cyril Cluett, Phyllis Dickson, Matt BrownA robbery occurs at the bank.
Investigators examine the crime scene while employees gossip.
Oscar, Charlie, SampsonMatt is interrogated by the Inspector.
Matt Brown, Helen, Sampson, Tom DicksonDickson arrives at the bank and learns of Matt's situation.
Tom Dickson, HelenCluett leaves his office, followed by a detective.
Cyril CluettOscar the teller recounts the discovery of the dead watchman to the operator, causing a chain reaction of rumors about the bank's stability.
Oscar, CharlieMame, another operator, spreads the rumor about the bank robbery and the chief teller's trouble.
Two men discuss the bank robbery, causing alarm among bystanders.
Two men discuss the bank's potential closure, causing an old beggar woman to panic.
Sam the bootblack spreads a rumor that Mr. Dickson stole over a million dollars.
A customer discovers the bank is in trouble and panics.
Patrons in a bar spread rumors about the bank being broke.
A massive run on the bank occurs as depositors scramble to withdraw their money.
SampsonDickson is informed of the run on the bank while being questioned by the Inspector.
Tom Dickson, Matt Brown, Sampson, ClarkThe Inspector questions Mrs. Halligan about Matt's whereabouts on the night of the murder, while Dickson tries to get Matt to tell the truth.
Tom Dickson, Matt Brown, Clark, Dude Finlay, SampsonA bank run is in progress; Dickson attempts to calm the crowd while dealing with his board of directors.
Tom Dickson, Helen, Cyril Cluett, Clark, Schultz, O'BrienThe directors discuss the bank run and Dickson's leadership.
Clark, Schultz, O'Brien, Jonathan Ives, AmesDirectors discuss Dickson's refusal to give up control of the bank.
Clark, Schultz, O'Brien, Jonathan Ives, AmesSampson instructs tellers to stall depositors as panic grows.
Sampson, OscarDickson desperately tries to secure a million dollars in cash over the phone.
Tom DicksonPolice prepare to take Matt to headquarters; Helen arrives and clings to him.
Matt Brown, HelenPolice discuss Dude Finlay and Cluett; Helen reveals Cluett met with Finlay.
Matt Brown, HelenA bank guard tries to calm a panicked crowd of depositors.
Dickson is rejected by another financial contact.
Tom DicksonThe Inspector questions Cluett, who tries to maintain his composure.
Cyril CluettCluett attempts to escape but is cornered by the police.
Cyril CluettThe Inspector brings the captured Cluett to Dickson.
Tom Dickson, Cyril CluettCluett confesses his involvement with gangsters and reveals Phyllis was at his apartment, devastating Dickson.
Tom Dickson, Cyril Cluett, Dude FinlayPhyllis receives a call from Dickson.
Phyllis DicksonDirectors discuss the bank's crisis and Clark decides to approach Dickson.
Clark, Schultz, O'Brien, Jonathan Ives, AmesClark convinces a despondent Dickson to sign over his stock.
Tom Dickson, Clark, Matt Brown, HelenPanic ensues as the bank runs out of money.
Phyllis confronts Dickson to explain her actions.
Tom Dickson, Phyllis DicksonMatt and Helen coordinate a phone campaign to save the bank by calling in favors.
Matt Brown, HelenMr. Jones arrives to make a deposit, showing public support for Dickson.
OscarMatt continues his phone campaign, speaking to two people at once.
Matt Brown, HelenMore people arrive to make deposits.
Phyllis urges Dickson to save the bank.
Tom Dickson, Phyllis DicksonSampson enters to tell Dickson about the deposits.
Tom Dickson, Phyllis Dickson, SampsonDickson sees the crowd making deposits.
Tom Dickson, Phyllis Dickson, SampsonDickson confronts the directors and convinces them to support the bank.
Tom Dickson, Clark, Schultz, O'Brien, Jonathan Ives, AmesListen, both you fellows. Dickson's in a jam. The run's getting worse. Those big guys got the screws on him. Yeah, both you fellows got to come thru for him. Listen, if his friends don't help him, who is going to help him? Now he came through for you a hundred times. Yeah, listen. They're starting to come in already. Yeah, listen. Both of you fellas - get all the money you can lay your hands on, and bring it down here right away. Both of you - step on it! All right.
I can't? You just wait and see. If that run doesn't stop within the next hour, I'll shut the doors. You know what that means? The bank examiner will step in tomorrow. You'll be forced to liquidate. I'll insist upon it. The depositors will be paid one hundred cents on the dollar. What's left you gentlemen can have. But I'll guarantee there won't be enough to pay your next month's garage bill.
No. You can't reason with anyone else when you're in a jam. We pleaded with you to keep liquid, but you wouldn't listen to us. You preached to us about faith and a lot of other rubbish. Now you want our help. You want us to throw a lot of cash into a bank that you've wrecked. All right. There's one way you can get it. Give us an option on your stock and resign as president.
Any bank that Tom Dickson has anything to do with is all right. I'm putting my money in here. Why should you be afraid? Give him a chance. Tom Dickson is all right! He's perfectly square. I'm putting my money in this bank! I know what I'm doing!
No. No, I'm afraid papa isn't that much interested. He's too busy rushing off to Philadelphia to make stuffy, old speeches at stuffy, old bankers' meetings. Too busy closing big, important deals. I think I will have a drink.
Get all the big bills in the place. Take them out and get them changed. Get nothing but ones and fives. Distribute them among the tellers. Tell them to take their time. Stall as much as possible. Count and recount the money.
Yes! You said it, Clark. That's the only thing that means anything to me. Before I take a man into this bank, and before I extend credit to anyone, I satisfy myself on one thing - do I believe in him?
Aw, I'm sorry, Mr. Dickson. It's just kind of sudden, that's all. Sure, I'm excited. I think it's great. Only, well, you've done so much for me already . . . I'll never be able to thank you enough.
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