Paid | 1930 | Crime Drama

Title: Paid | 1930 | Crime Drama Director: Sam Wood Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Starring: Joan Crawford, Robert Armstrong, Marie Prevost, Kent Douglass, John Miljan Based on: Play *Within the Law* by Bayard Veiller Release Date: December 30 1930 Runtime: 86 minutes Format: Black and white with sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Crime Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Mary Turner’s wrongful conviction and prison 00:10:00 Prison life and alliance with Agnes 00:20:00 Mary’s release and struggle to find work 00:30:00 Meeting Joe Garson and beginning schemes 00:45:00 Blackmail plots and “heart balm” racket 01:00:00 Marriage to Bob Gilder and revenge 01:15:00 Consequences and resolution --- Summary: Paid is a 1930 American pre-Code crime drama about Mary Turner, a young woman unjustly convicted of theft by her employer and sentenced to prison. After serving her term, Mary finds it difficult to reintegrate into society and turns to a life of calculated schemes and partnerships with a fellow ex-convent and a con man, using legal loopholes and “heart balm” claims to secure money through blackmail-adjacent tactics. Her quest culminates in a personal and ironic revenge when she entangles herself with the family of the man responsible for her conviction. The narrative explores themes of injustice, class tensions, and personal retribution as Mary struggles between moral compromise and empowerment in a society that has failed her. --- Background: Directed and produced by Sam Wood for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paid was adapted by Lucien Hubbard and Charles MacArthur from Bayard Veiller’s 1912 play *Within the Law*. The film was one of Joan Crawford’s early dramatic roles following her rise as a film star and helped transition her career toward more serious character parts. --- Trivia: Paid was the fourth film version of the play *Within the Law*, previously adapted as silent films in 1916, 1917, and 1923. Joan Crawford insisted on a gritty, unglamorous portrayal during the prison sequences, appearing without makeup for realism. The success of Paid helped elevate Crawford’s status at MGM and broaden her range beyond flapper roles. The film’s plot involves legal maneuvering and social critique, reflecting early pre-Code themes of empowerment and revenge. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: December 30 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #Paid1930 #JoanCrawford #SamWood #CrimeDrama #ClassicFilm #PreCode #PublicDomain