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Angels With Dirty Faces (1938)

Angels With Dirty Faces (1938)
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Childhood chums Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) and Jerry Connelly (Pat O'Brien) grow up on opposite sides of the fence: Rocky matures into a prominent gangster, while Jerry becomes a priest, tending to the needs of his old tenement neighborhood. Rocky becomes a hero to a gang of teenaged boys (played by Dead End Kids Billy Halop, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Bobby Jordan and Bernard Punsley). Father Jerry despairs at this, asking Rocky to lay off so he can keep the kids on the straight and narrow. Then Rocky's crooked business associates George Bancroft and Humphrey Bogart attempt to end Father Jerry's radio campaign against the rackets by killing the priest. Rocky (whose cynical outlook on life has been softened by his romance with true-blue Anne Sheridan) shoots them down and takes it on the lam. Arrested and convicted of murder, Rocky sits smugly on death row, fully intending to go to the chair with a smile on his face. A few moments before the execution, Father Jerry pleads with Rocky to "turn yellow" so that the tenement kids will despise his memory. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, (more)
Director(s):
Michael Curtiz
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Angels With Dirty Faces

Childhood chums Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) and Jerry Connelly (Pat O'Brien) grow up on opposite sides of the fence: Rocky matures into a prominent gangster, while Jerry becomes a priest, tending to the needs of his old tenement neighborhood. Rocky becomes a hero to a gang of teenaged boys (played by Dead End Kids Billy Halop, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Bobby Jordan and Bernard Punsley). Father Jerry despairs at this, asking Rocky to lay off so he can keep the kids on the straight and narrow. Then Rocky's crooked business associates George Bancroft and Humphrey Bogart attempt to end Father Jerry's radio campaign against the rackets by killing the priest. Rocky (whose cynical outlook on life has been softened by his romance with true-blue Anne Sheridan) shoots them down and takes it on the lam. Arrested and convicted of murder, Rocky sits smugly on death row, fully intending to go to the chair with a smile on his face. A few moments before the execution, Father Jerry pleads with Rocky to "turn yellow" so that the tenement kids will despise his memory. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
78 mins

Complete Cast of Angels With Dirty Faces


Director(s):
Michael Curtiz
Writer(s):
Warren B. Duff, John Wexley, Rowland Brown
Producer(s):
Sam Bischoff
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR(Questionable for Children, Suitable for Teens)
Angels With Dirty Faces Awards:
  • 1938 - National Board of Review - Best Acting
  • 1938 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actor
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    Allen H.

    I originally solely rented this movie as a huge Humphrey Bogart fan who wanted to see some of his early work before he bacame a star. But I ended up getting something else out of it as well. A suprising (for me) perfomance from James Cagney. Not that I didnt like James Cagney, I always have enjoyed his performances, especially his George M. Cohan. I just never felt most of his performances were very strong, with his type casting, or his wise guy charactor acting if you will. Here is an exception. This is in my opinion, one of James Cagneys best performances. I love the look on his face at the end just before he gets in the chair. And his off camera performance that followed. It is awesome.

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    Seth P.

    The movie follows Rocky Sullivan and his return to gangster life. He becomes a celebrity among the local youth, which troubles Father Connolly. Connolly and Sullivan are long time friends, and their friendship is refreshing to see on screen - each looking past their moral difference. In most movies we would see the priest judge the criminal, or perhaps the criminal feel inadequate to be friends with a priest. Angels with Dirty Faces does not dive in to that B&W world. It instead remains in a complex world where we don't have all the answers. The movie takes a subtle and open-ended look at themes such as fate, redemption and sacrifice. Instead of forcing opinions on the audience, you are open to find your own interpretation of the events that took place. Whatever way you look at it, the end of the movie is powerful and wonderfully shot. It should also be said that James Cagney is outstanding as Rocky Sullivan. It's worth watching just for him. "What do you hear, what do you say?"

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    Maya W.

    this is a really good movie. cagney plays the role of bad guy with a good heart really well. it's all about cagney, as everybody else's roles don't have the fire that his character does. highly reccomended.

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