The Payoff (1942): cast, story & where to watch
1942 · Film · ★ 5.8
Released in 1942, The Payoff is an action, thriller, crime and mystery film directed by Arthur Dreifuss, running about 74 minutes. “HE'S BACK AGAIN... The Fastest talking newshawk in his greatest role!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The city's District Attorney is murdered, and a newspaper reporter investigates. He starts finding out that everything wasn't quite as cut and dried as it appeared to be.
Who’s in it. The Payoff stars Lee Tracy as Brad McKay, Tom Brown as Guy Norris, Tina Thayer as Phyllis Walker and Evelyn Brent as Alma Dorn, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.8/10, The Payoff has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Payoff page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Payoff tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Payoff (1942)?
- In US, The Payoff is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Payoff worth watching?
- The Payoff holds an audience score of 5.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller, crime and mystery. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Payoff?
- The Payoff stars Lee Tracy, Tom Brown, Tina Thayer, Evelyn Brent and Jack La Rue.
- When was The Payoff released?
- The Payoff was released in 1942, with a runtime of about 74 minutes.