User Reviews

While fictionalized, this film follows the general outline of the life of Horace Tabor, known as The Bonanza King of Leadville, who was a prospector, businessman, and politician (becoming the Lieutenant Governor of Colorado).

Although called Yates Martin in the film, the story follows Tabor from store owner to silver magnate to Lieutenant Governor to U.S. Senator, to financial ruination -- all basically true. He dumps his faithful wife in favor of a young woman who seems to be after him only for his money, marries the second wife in a scandalous wedding in Washington, and in the film and in real life, she sticks with him through the good times and the bad. The film seems to imply that upon his financial ruination he had a slight stroke, and then died of a heart attack after seeing the "ghosts of his success" in his grand opera house. In reality, Tabor died of appendicitis. The film does not go into what happened to his two wives to any extent. His first wife became relatively wealthy in her own right due to wise investments. His second wife (Elizabeth "Baby Doe" McCourt), then poor, went to live in the tool shed of the Tabor's Matchless Mine for 30 years and died there. Perhaps the screen writers felt that was just too fantastic to be believed, even though it did happen.

This is one of Edward G. Robinson's most notable roles, and he plays each chapter of the life of the silver magnate brilliantly. Not particularly easy, since the character has few redeeming qualities. Aline MacMahon as the first wife is just wonderful, and Bebe Daniels is great as the second wife.

I particularly enjoyed the film because I recently moved to Colorado and was familiar with the real story. Highly recommended, and especially noteworthy since it was made in 1932...more sophisticated than most films of that era.

I actually can't remember the last movie featuring Edward G Robinson that I watched, which is surprising since he's one of my preferred actors when it comes to 30s and 40s cinema. This movie is unusual for him since for once, he isn't playing a mobster or some other wise guy who sets up arbitrary rules only to break them later on. Chronologically, this might be the earliest movie Robinson has ever been in, due to the setting. It begins in 1876. A farmer from Kansas, Yates Martin (Robinson), takes his wife Sarah (Aline MacMahon) and baby son to Colorado so he can buy a store. Martin's real goal is to acquire gold ore while he's here and get rich. He tries to purchase some unowned land, but some prospectors tell him of a strike in the nearby town of Leadville, so the idea falls apart. In addition to working the store, Martin pays miners in exchange for being prospecting partners with them. This leads to Martin and his wife running out of money and the latter wants to move back to Kansas. However, more prospectors show up and tell Martin they've hit the jackpot and discovered silver. While not as rare as gold, Martin has a third share of the substantial amount of silver ore the men found. Soon, Martin is rich and has more money than he knows what to do with. One new thing he buys is a claim from a miner who appears to be having a difficult time right now, but Sarah suspects a scam. Despite her feelings that this is going to be a bad idea, Martin gives the guy 50 thousand dollars. Soon after, Martin is asked if he wants to be lieutenant governor of colorado, and he says yes. While preparing one of his campaign speeches, Martin's foreman approaches him and says the claim he bought from that guy was worthless and he got ripped off. Martin can't appear nervous or foolish in front of his supporters, so he orders him to keep bringing up silver until the election passes. Martin doesn't expect this to happen, but he actually wins the election and his miners hit a silver vein that yields more money than ever. Using the money, Martin decides to build a lavish opera house for Denver. While it's being built, he visits and is introduced to Lily Owens (Bebe Daniels), a blonde who later becomes his mistress. Martin divorces his wife so he can marry Lily instead, but gives Sarah a quarter of a million bucks. When the opera house opens, one of the guests is famed Civil War general (now president) Ulysses Grant. Martin has enough power, but power leads to the desire for even more. Next, he takes the seat of a US senator and goes to Washington. With a beautiful bride and enough cash to last them both the rest of their lives, it appears Martin has finally made it to his dreamland, but the new president Grover Cleveland adopts the gold standard. In one fell swoop, Martin is ruined and the price of silver plummets. The only thing he has left is his mine, but he's in no mood to continue operating it since it costs more to operate than the silver is worth. He runs into Sarah again, who offers him money, but he declines. Going back to the opera house he helped make, he sits in one of boxes and reminisces on the time he announced his plans as governor to a large crowd. Martin collapses and later dies in his bed with Lily by his side. At his funeral, she and Sarah are both present. This is a decent movie. If you like Robinson's work, you'll be able to get right into it, and the setting is a welcome change of pace from basically all of his other ventures, whether he's being a criminal or not. The only other film I know of that has him in the 1800s is Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet. No matter the time period, he always gave great performances even if many of his Warner Brothers entries are forgotten today, and that's why he'll remain a 30s icon.

"Baby Face" director Alfred E. Green charted the rags-to-riches rise and fall of a farmer in "Silver Dollar," a saga about the 19th century silver boom in Colorado over a ten year period in this trim but tragic western. Despite its western setting, "Silver Dollar" focuses more on politics and business as Yates Martin (Edward G. Robinson) emerges from the mines, becomes an entrepreneur, later a millionaire, eventually a senator, but ultimate dies penniless. The hubris of the protagonist is that he leaves his hard-working wife and is seduced by fame and fortune. Men may be the only people who can vote, our hero is warned, but women shape public opinion. Robinson made "Silver Dollar" long after his star-making role in "Little Caesar" and other oddities like the Asian killer in "Hatchet Man." The most interesting scene here occurs when Yates comes home to his wife in a drunken stupor and climbs into bed with her. We actually get to see them occupy the same mattress, a practice that the Production Code Administration later frowned on in Hollywood movies.

Yates Martin dreams of striking it rich with gold. In 1876, Yates' wife Sarah (Aline MacMahon of "Gold Diggers of 1933") convinces him that instead of prospecting for wealth in the ground that he should prospect for wealth in the pockets of other miners. Yates suffers from too much generosity and he allows his customers to buy their supplies and pay for them later. Eventually, he grub stakes a couple of miners who strike it rich and share in the profits. Along the way, Yates is approached to campaign for public office and he enters politics. Our protagonist decides to run for the lofty position of lieutenant governor of Colorado. Before he launches his campaign, he buys out a sickly miner and his daughter, but Yates learns too late that he has been swindled. Fearful that he will lose his bid for lieutenant governor when word spreads that he has been had, Yates orders his men to keep on digging. Miraculously, they strike a vein and Yates is rolling money. Initially, Yates lived to get rich on gold, but he ends up making a fortune in silver and renounces his dreams of gold. Yates is no spendthrift and he shares his fortune with the 'people' of Colorado. He finances the construction of a post office and later he commissions the building of a world-class opera house in Denver.

During the planning stages for the opera house, Yates encounters a beautiful woman, Lily Owens (Bebe Daniels of "42nd Street"), who laughs at his ignorance about classic European figures like Beethoven when his planner suggests that they place figures of these types in his opera palace. Meantime, Sarah languishes ignorantly in a sumptuous house that Yates has built for her and raises their son Max (David Durand) while Yates lavishes clothes and jewelry on the seductive Lily. The turning point for Yates comes when he dedicates the opera house with Ulysses S. Grant (Walter Rodgers of "The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln" where he also impersonated Grant) as his guest of honor. Sarah doesn't attend the festivities, but Lily does and Yates takes his first step down the road to disaster. When Yates decides to run for senator, his advisers warn him that he must be a paragon of virtue, so Yates divorces Sarah and weds Lily in Washington. A distinctly uncomfortable President Chester A. Arthur attends the ceremony. Eventually, Yates uses his wealth to buy a temporary seat as senator, but the bottom drops out of his financial kingdom when President Grover Cleveland institutes the gold standard. Interestingly, Lily remains dutifully at Yates side through his many setbacks, and Sarah—who has hung onto the fortune that Yates gave her—tries to give him some. Yates rejects her offer. Clearly, Yates believes that he can weather this catastrophe, but he doesn't. All along Yates has assured everyone that if they trust him that he see to it that they wallow in silver and ultimately get buried in a silver casket. At the last minute, Yates receives an appointment as the Post Master of Denver, but it comes too late. Sarah and Lily both appear at his funeral.

"Silver Dollar" is neither particularly exciting nor charismatic. Robinson delivers a strong performance as an individual who is clearly out of his element when he blunders into the arena of politics and big business. The scene with William Jennings Bryan serves as another turning point in his career. Yates believes that his company can excavate twice as much silver to compensate for the sudden prominence of gold. Actually, there are no villains to speak of and Yates' first wife doesn't bear him any ill will. Green directs this biographic epic with competence, and "Silver Dollar" never wears out its welcome. Nevertheless, nothing truly memorable happens. "Silver Dollar" is a well-made potboiler with a sturdy cast. Robinson's character is derived from the legendary Horace Austin Warner Tabor known best as 'The Bonanza King of Leadville.' Scenarists Carl Erickson and Harvey Thew based their screenplay on David Karsner's biographical novel about Tabor. Later, Douglas Moore immortalized Tabor's life in his opera, "The Ballad of Baby Doe," in 1956 in Colorado.

"Silver Dollar", a very early E.G. Robinson vehicle, is not a great movie by any means, but it is more interesting to watch if you know that it is essentially the true story of Colorado miner and politician Horace Tabor, although his character is named Yates Martin here. In fact, the accuracy with which Tabor's basic life story is told is quite surprising for a Hollywood flik. Perhaps the only failure on this point is that in the film, Martin receives his Postmastership of Denver while on his death bed, while in real life Tabor served a full year as postmaster before dieing (a small concession to the need to find a dramatic finish).

For most of the film, Yates Martin, as played by Robinson, is bufoonish and mildly irritating; not because Robinson's acting is bad - that is impossible - but rather because of Martin lack's common sense and tact in his dealings with others. He is vain and a braggart, and ridiculously optimistic, as miners are often characterized to be (even in poverty he claims, "stick with me and we'll be buried in silver caskets). The only difference is, with enormous luck, Martin succeeds beyond his dreams, falling into unimaginable wealth despite his poor business judgment.

The payoff, however, is at the end, when Martin goes bust. Here is where Robinson truly shines. Usually when younger actors are made up to appear old, the result is unconvincing and unsatisfying. But Robinson's portrayal of the old, broke, and slowly declining Martin is magnificent and convincing. As Martin slides into mild dementia, Robinson's acting skills really come to the fore. It is well worth the wait of an hour through an otherwise unremarkable movie.

"Silver Dollar" is helped greatly by a particularly strong cast of supporting players. Russel Simpson has a good role as a party boss, and Aline MacMahon, as Robinson's wife, gives a great preview of a coming career specializing in weary and cynical women. A special treat is silent star Walter Long, in a brief appearance as the miner who sells Martin a supposedly worthless mine for $50,000. Long played the foil in several Laurel and Hardy movies, and may best be remembered for playing Gus, the terrifying "renegade Negro", in Birth of a Nation.

Is there such a thing as time wasted watching Edward G. Robinson? Definitely not. And how often will you ever see a movie that gives a speaking role to President Chester A. Arthur?

. . . during INHERIT THE WIND, as well as in countless Real Life campaign speeches. During the actual Real Life Era of SILVER DOLLAR, ounce-for-ounce Silver was worth as much or more than gold on American markets, because it's A)Prettier, B)Stronger, and C)More Useful than "Fool's gold" (whose intrinsic worth is barely more than pyrite's). Then, about the time that the Racist South African DeBeers Corp. hired some Madison Avenue flaks to spew and spread propaganda that raised the price of diamonds from a dime a karat up toward Today's sky-high ransoms (as oceans of diamonds are being held hostage, bursting the DeBeers Crime Cartel's cavernous bunkers), these same East Coast Liars bribed the U.S. Congress to turn against the metal of choice for We True Blue Loyal Patriotic Normal Average 99 Per Center Silent Majority Progressive Union Label Working Stiffs--SILVER!!--in favor of that wimpy, weak-kneed Foreign Idol, gold. In the process, these Corrupt Fat Cat Job-Killing "Conservative" Corporate Frauds destroy "Mr. Martin's" Life, as depicted in SILVER DOLLAR (leaving him so cursed that even our courageous People's Movie Studio--Warner Bros.--had to use the "Martin" alias in lieu of this Silver Champ's actual handle: Horace Tabor). Since Eddie Robinson's character refuses to "play the game" and ride the Golden Calf under ANY name, the Pedophiliac Repug Party wipes out any evidence that he ever lived.

The fantastic Edward G. Robinson gives another memorable performance in this political drama that shows his rise from shopkeeper moving to Denver from Kansas to political big wig and dramatizes his downfall when his personal life catches up with him. He's been married for years to the loyal, hard-working Aline MacMahon (one of the unsung greats of the 1930's) and she's content to remain in the background as his ambition takes over. Ultimately, he begins seeing the pretty Bebe Daniels on the side and cruelly dumps her in one of the saddest movie scenes ever. As the scandal becomes known, gis reputation suffers, and Robinson must eat crow as his downfall occurs swift and ruthlessly.

This is truly an amazing character study of one man's rise and fall, and Robinson is excellent, giving one of his best performances. Ambition is a killer, and Robinson really must fall into the depths of despair to realize the impact of his change on everybody around him and ultimately what it has made him in his later years. mcmahen character really doesn't deserve her fate here, but it is a very real situation, and she makes the most out of a small part. Daniels is good, but she is overshadowed by the two other actors post characters have more depth. A great Warner Brothers pre-code drama in every aspect that may have you reaching for your Kleenex in the final scene.

. . . during INHERIT THE WIND, as well as in countless Real Life campaign speeches. During the actual Real Life Era of SILVER DOLLAR, ounce-for-ounce silver was worth as much or more than gold on American markets, because it's A)Prettier, B)Stronger, and C)More Useful than "Fool's Gold" (whose intrinsic worth is barely more than pyrite's). Then, about the same time that the Racist South African DeBeers Corp. hired some Madison Avenue flaks to spew and spread propaganda that raised the price of diamonds from a dime a karat up toward Today's sky-high prices (as oceans of diamonds fill the DeBeers Crime Cartel's cavernous bunkers), these same East Coast Liars bribed the U.S. Congress to turn against the metal favored by We True Blue Loyal Patriotic Normal Average 99 Per Center Silent Majority Progressive Union Label Working Stiffs--SILVER!!--in favor of that wimpy, weak-kneed foreign idol, gold. In the process, these Corrupt Job-Killing Fat Cat "Conservative" Corporate Mobsters destroy "Mr. Martin's" life (leaving him so cursed that even the courageous Warner Bros.--the People's Movie Studio--had to use the "Martin" alias in lieu of this Silver Champ's actual handle: Horace Tabor). Since Eddie Robinson's character refuses to "play the game" and mount the Golden Calf under ANY name, the Pedophiliac Repug Party wipes out any evidence that he ever lived.

"Silver Dollar" Tabor was a prospector who gained his considerable wealth mining silver at his "Matchless Mine" in Colorado. Before his death he had lost his fortune and bequeathed his widow "Baby Doe" the "Matchless Mine" he vainly thought would make his fortune again. Most people attributed Tabor's change of fortune to the fact that he had deserted his wife and children for a younger, vivacious woman (nearly thirty years his junior). But "Baby Doe" remained faithful to his memory and when she died in 1935 it was as a recluse in a shack near the mine. As the movie was produced while Tabor's widow still lived, the well crafted screenplay had to change names and thinly disguise facts.

"Silver Dollar" shows that even this early in his career Edward G. Robinson was able to give superbly crafted character studies with a depth of dramatic scope.

Even though gregarious Yates Martin (Robinson) has just been elected Mayor of the new city of Denver, he can't keep the wolf from his door!! He is a dreamer who is always looking for the elusive gold strike that he hopes will make his fortune. In the meantime his dour but practical wife (wonderful Aline MacMahon) persuades him to follow the latest lot of miners - as a merchant!!! His "hail fellow well met" air sees this venture almost fail but when two old prospectors, whom Yates had staked to provisions in return for a stake in their mine, hit a silver lode, Yate's fortune is finally made. That same day, a shifty looking miner (it's Walter Long for crying out loud, haven't they seen any of his movies!!) convinces Martin to buy his prosperous mine - "The Matchless Mine" sight unseen and it turns out, initially, that he has been had but he never gives up on it and eventually it proves his greatest success!!!

Pride comes before a fall and while supervising the building of the State's new Opera House, Yates makes the acquaintance of the beautiful Lily Owens (Bebe Daniels). From then on it is all downhill. Martin's larger than life personality combined with his boastfulness and materialism is fanned by Lily's sincere idolatry and flattery. Their house is a monument to bad taste and egotism but Yates is like a babe in arms as far as big business goes. Soon gold forces the price of silver down and by the end Yates has lost everything. When a chance meeting at a hotel with Col. Stanton (Robert Warwick) promises the job of Postmaster General, it unfortunately comes too late.

I actually think this is one of Robinson's greatest performances and he is almost matched by the incomparable Aline MacMahon - they should have bottled her talent, and the lovely Bebe Daniels. Among other players are Leon Waycoff (before he was Ames) and Bonita Granville as the little girl in the store.

Director: ALFRED E. GREEN. Screenplay: Carl Erickson, Harvey Thew. Based on the 1932 biography Silver Dollar: The Story of the Tabors by David Karsner. Photography: James Van Trees. Film editor: George Marks. Art director: Robert Haas. Costumes: Orry-Kelly. No producer credited.

Copyright 24 March 1933 by First National Pictures, Inc. A Warner Bros-First National Picture. New York opening at the Strand: 22 December 1932. U.K. release: 3 June 1933. 84 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Yates Martin, a Kansas farmer, gets caught up in the Colorado gold rush, and with his wife, Sarah, opens a general store in one of the boom towns. However, Yates goes broke extending credit to the miners who pay him in shares to their mines. The Martins are about to return to Kansas and farming when two miners come in with silver bags. Martin becomes the richest of them all. Soon Martin becomes a leading town figure, and enters politics, being elected in turn mayor, postmaster, sheriff and eventually lieutenant governor. He has so much money he is literally throwing it away. He buys a mansion in Denver, erects a big opera house, donates land for a post office, and is the first to give to charity on any occasion.

Martin meets Lily, a beautiful woman who delights in diamonds and pearls, and adores the limelight - a complete contrast to his wife.

NOTES: Number 22 at the Australian box-office for 1933, which is actually even better than it sounds, as this picture sold only about twenty thousand tickets less than the number 4 placed Kid from Spain.

One of Mordaunt Hall's selections for his supplementary list of "Fifty Notable Films of 1932" for The New York Times.

COMMENT: Not just another rags to riches to rags story but a superbly staged chronicle of the rise and fall of Haw Tabor, the Colorado silver mining tycoon and aspiring U.S. Senator, brilliantly and engrossingly brought to life by Ed G. The other figures of Tabor's life are well enacted too: Aline MacMahon almost too realistic as Tabor's nagging wife, Bebe Daniels (who doesn't come on till half-way through) as the gold-digger who surprisingly sticks by him.

Production values are exceptionally lavish (marvelous sets by Robert Haas). Peppy direction.

OTHER VIEWS: Robinson turns in one of his greatest performances. - Motion Picture Guide.