BrianRxm Coins in Movies 223/377
Mr. Soft Touch (1949)
Gangster reforms with help of a lady and doesn't steal coins on table
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The 1949 film "Mr. Soft Touch" is about a World War II veteran (Glenn Ford) who steals a large sum of money from gangsters who took over the casino he owned when he went into the army.
 
He hides out in a refuge house run by social worker Evelyn Keyes while waiting to catch a ship out of the country.
 
This film is set around Christmas and appears to be set in San Francisco. Evelyn manages to tame some of Glenn's hard-boiled instincts.
 
Early in the film Glenn Ford is in Evelyn's office and sees a pile of silver dollars and smaller coins. His first instinct is to pocket them but decides not to.
 
Some film prop coins appear as coins, including two stacks of large prop coins. The large prop coins are Prosperity Lucky Ship Good Luck Coins.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
1. Title
Glenn Ford is driving a "1947 Lincoln" and is fleeing someone or something. He has to stop to pay the bridge toll, then 25 cents, exact change requested.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
2. Bridge toll plaza
Glenn has lots of cash including a fifty-dollar bill.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
3. Glenn hands over $50 note
The bill is a standard Mexican Revolution motion picture stage or prop bill. For more information on these bills please visit: Mexican Revolution Currency Notes.
 
Glenn then hides the car at a used car lot.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
4. Glenn hides car
He visits a friend who has bought a ship ticket to Japan for him. He has to hide somewhere until the ship sails, and through circumstances, finds himself at Evelyn Keyes' refuge or homeless shelter.
 
A radio broadcast and a newspaper column indicate that Glenn is carrying a lot of cash which he has stolen from a casino which he and partners owned before the war (World War II). Glenn went into the army and upon his return found his partner murdered and the casino taken over by gangsters.
 
He visited the casino and took a large sum of cash money with him, and is being followed by the gangsters who want the money back.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
5. Glenn meets Evelyn
Glenn is in Evelyn's office and looks around.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
6. Glenn examines cup
The cup has writing indicating it was used for a charity fundraising drive. Posters for various charity groups, including the Red Cross, are on the walls. Glenn then looks at the desk and sees something.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
7. Glenn spots coins on table
On the desk is a pile of money in silver dollars and smaller coins. A note with them indicates that they are for the "United Nations for Children."
 
Mr. Soft Touch
8. Table coins
The paper under the coins reads "UNITED NATIONS APPEAL FOR CHILDREN $21.32."
 
A closer look at the coins:
 
Mr. Soft Touch
9. Table coins rotated 180 degrees
There are two types of prop coin stacks on the table.
 
The larger coins are Prosperity Lucky Ship Good Luck Coins. The smaller coins are Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Company Motion Picture 25 cent prop coins.
 
Prosperity Lucky Ship Good Luck Coin
10. Prosperity Lucky Ship Good Luck Coin
White metal, 30 mm, 10.38 gm
 
Obverse:
Woman standing holding cornucopia, rising sun to right
PROSPERITY / 1932 / LUCKY COIN
 
Reverse:
Sailing ship facing right
LUCKY SHIP / SUCCESS TO YOU
 
For more about this coin please visit: Prosperity Lucky Ship Good Luck Coin
 
Los Angeles Rubber Stamp prop Coin
11. Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Company 25 cent prop coin
Aluminum, 25 mm, 1.51 gm
 
Obverse:
LOS ANGELES RUBBER STAMP CO.
MFR'S OF / TRADE CHECKS / BAGGAGE CHECKS / CELLULOID BUTTONS
BURNING BRANDS / RIBBON BADGES / THROPHIES (Mispelling)
SEALS / STENCILS
 
Reverse:
RETURNABLE / FOR CREDIT AT LB. RATE / 25¢
This film prop coin is the same size as the US 25 cent piece or quarter.
 
For more information on these prop coins please visit: Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Coins
 
Back to the film:
 
Evelyn's place has a number of colorful characters hanging around, including a young boy.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
12. Clenn meets a bookie in training
The boy claims to have tips on winning horseraces from his brother, a jockey. Glenn gives the boy some money, more Mexican stage money.
 
Glenn spots Evelyn and gazes at her legs.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
13. Glenn propositions Evelyn
Evelyn isn't impressed with Glenn's line "I'd like to see you in red silk."
 
The gangsters show up and set the place on fire. A little girl leaves with a package. Evelyn and Glenn fall in love but she wants to stay at her place and not flee with Glenn.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
14. Little girl finds money
It's Glenn's money from the casino. He heads over to the casino, enters using a secret tunnel, and confronts the gangster chief.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
15. Glenn visits casino gangster boss
Glenn opens the safe (apparently the gangsters didn't change the combination) and takes more money. He heads back to Evelyn's place dressed as Santa Claus and followed by gangsters. As Santa Claus he hands out the money, is spotted by the gangsters and is shot.
 
Mr. Soft Touch
16. Glenn and Evelyn
Glenn and Evelyn are together but whether he survives or not is ambiguous.
Cast, Directors, Writers:
 
Glenn Ford as Joe Miracle
Evelyn Keyes as Jenny Jones
 
Directors: Gordon Douglas, Henry Levin
Writers: Milton Holmes, Orin Jannings
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