Each Dawn I Die (1939)
- Starring:
- James Cagney, George Raft, (more)
- Director(s):
- William Keighley
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of Each Dawn I Die
Otis Ferguson has said of Each Dawn I Die that "the story is of the kind you would have to see to disbelieve." And to be sure, the film is nothing more than a sampler of '30s prison-film conventions. But with the brilliant acting by James Cagney and the fast-paced and hard-edged direction of William Keighley, the film clatters past like an express train. Cagney plays Frank Ross, an innocent newspaperman who is railroaded into prison by a corrupt district attorney. In prison, he meets hardened-con Stacey (George Raft). Frank, at first, doesn't want to associate with Stacey and the other prisoners, but trapped in the hellhole prison, he more and more turns into a bitter con. Finally granted a hearing from the parole board, Frank pleads his innocence, but the parole board is headed by Grayce (Victor Jury), the man responsible for his imprisonment, and his parole is denied, and Frank becomes more hardened and embittered. By this point, Stacey has befriended him and agrees to help Frank prove his innocence. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 92 mins
Complete Cast of Each Dawn I Die
- James Cagney - Frank Ross
- Jane Bryan - Joyce Conover
- Victor Jory - W.J. Grayce
- Stanley Ridges - Mueller
- John Wray - Pete Kassock
- Willard Robertson - Lang
- Paul Hurst - Garsky
- Clay Clement - Attorney Lockhart
- Harry Cording - Temple
- Nat Carr
- Joseph Downing - Limpy Julien
- Mack Gray - Joe
- Al Hill - Johnny the Hood
- Elliott Sullivan - Convict
- John Ridgely - Jerry Poague, Reporter
- Lee Phelps
- Henry Otho
- John Conte - Narrator
- Jack Goodrich
- Napoleon Simpson - Mose
- Jack C. Smith - Guard
- Abner Biberman - Shake Edwards
- Jack Wise
- Walter Miller - Turnkey
- Wilfred Lucas - Bailiff
- Selmar Jackson - Patterson
- Stuart Holmes - Accident witness
- Louis Jean Heydt - Joe Lassiter
- Fred Graham - Guard in cell
- John Dilson - Parole Board Member
- Granville Bates
- George Raft - Hood Stacey
- George Bancroft - Warden John Armstrong
- "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom - Fargo Red
- Alan Baxter - Pole Cat Carlisle
- Edward Pawley - Dale
- Emma Dunn - Mrs. Ross
- Thurston Hall - District Attorney Jesse Hanley
- Charles Trowbridge - Judge
- Fern Barry - Accident Witness
- William B. Davidson - Bill Mason
- James Flavin - Policeman
- John Harron - Lew Keller, Reporter
- Emmett Vogan - Prosecutor
- Cliff Saum
- Dick Rich
- Bob Perry - Bud
- Wedgewood Nowell
- Garland Smith
- Alice Connors
- Al Lloyd
- Arthur Gardner - Men in Car
- Maris Wrixon - Girl in Car
- Tom Wilson
- Frank Mayo - Telegraph Editor
- Vera Lewis - Jury woman
- Robert E. Homans - Mac the Guard
- Max Hoffman, Jr. - Gate guard
- Chuck Hamilton - Court officer
- Earl Dwire - Judge Crowder
- Eddy Chandler - Deputy
- Director(s):
- William Keighley
- Writer(s):
- Charles Perry, Warren B. Duff, Norman Reilly Raine
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