Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

I found this film listed in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, it had a good cast and it was rated highly by critics, so I was definitely looking forward to it, from Oscar nominated director Michael Curtiz (The Adventures of Robin Hood, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Casablanca, Mildred Pierce, White Christmas). Basically in 1923, in New York, William "Rocky" Sullivan (Frankie Burke) and Jerry Connolly (William Tracy) attempted a railroad car robbery, Jerry being the faster runner escaped the police, while Rocky was caught and sentenced to reform school. Thirteen years later, Rocky Sullivan (Oscar nominated James Cagney) is arrested for armed robbery, he agrees with his lawyer and co-conspirator, Jim Frazier (Humphrey Bogart), to take the blame, in exchange for the stolen $100,000 on the day he is released. After serving his three years sentence, Rocky returns to his old neighbourhood and visits Jerry (Pat O'Brien), who is now a Catholic priest. Rocky takes Jerry advise to get a place "in the old parish", he rents a room in a boarding house run by Laury Martin (Ann Sheridan), a girl he bullied in school. Rocky then pays a visit to Frazier's casino, Frazier claims he was unaware of his release, but promises to have the $100,000 ready by the end of the week, giving him $500 spending money. Rocky is pick pocketed after leaving the casino, he follows the culprits, a group of youths: Soapy (Billy Halop), Swing (Bobby Jordan), Bim (Leo Gorcey), Pasty (Gabriel Dell), Crab (Huntz Hall), and Hunky (Bernard Punsly). They admire Rocky's reputation and criminal lifestyle, so they retrieve his wallet and invite him to dinner. While they are eating, Jerry shows up and asks the gang why they have not been playing basketball, Rocku convinces to play in a match against another team, Jerry and Laury express are concerned over the negative influence Rocky may be having on the gang. Frazier's hit squad makes an attempt on Rocky's life, he survives and retaliates by kidnapping Frazier, raiding his house and stealing $2,000 and a ledger. Frazier's business partner, Mac Keefer (George Bancroft), gives Rocky his $100,000 in full, but informs the police of the kidnapping, he is arrested, but released for a "misunderstanding" discovering the ledger. Jerry finds out about the kidnapping and goes to the press to express corruption in the city, Rocky unsuccessfully tries to reason with him, on the radio Jerry denounces the corruption, as well as Rocky, Frazier and Keefer. Frazier and Keefer assure Rocky that Jerry will not be harmed, but he overhears their plans to kill them both, Rocky kills Frazier and Keefer, escapes the casino and flees to an abandoned warehouse, there he kills a police officer, and the rest of the force show up, a standoff ensues. Jerry arrives and tries to reason with Rocky, telling him the entire building is surrounded, but Rocky takes Jerry hostage, he tries to escape, but gets shot in the leg and is caught, he stands trial and is sentenced to death. On the night of his execution, Jerry pleads with Rocky to beg for mercy on his way to the death house, to show people he died a coward, citing negative influence on Soapy and his gang, he refuses. But heading to the electric chair, Rocky does beg and scream for mercy, though his motive is unclear to the viewer, Soapy and the gang read about Rocky "turning yellow" before execution, and they lose all respect for him. Also starring Joe Downing as Steve, Edward Pawley as Edwards and Adrian Morris as Blackie. Cagney in an image-defining role is fantastic as the wise-guy gangster, O'Brien does well as the man who went the opposite side of the law, and Bogart proves he can also play a bad guy. I can see many moments that would be copied and even parodied in future movies, but this is full of many gritty moments, most exciting being the shootout sequences, and the famous final "mile" sequence is fantastic, the melodramatic script really gripping, it is simply a brilliantly made and must see classic crime drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Writing, Original Story. Very good!

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is a film that has the original socio - critical message. The script and story are very allowed. Curtiz is in the heart of the story, but between two fires, put a rag-tag group of young. Interestingly, such a state viewed from the perspective of young boys. Criminals are always a role model. The time and place do not matter. Perception is dictated by socio - economic aspects of society.In this film, the main character is not only criminal but also the anti-hero. He was polished, charming, charismatic, accomplished, and of course rich. Rocky Sullivan played by James Cagney, is a portrait of the life times of such 'Angels with Dirty Faces "as the title of the film says. Rocky is not a bad person.This is a gangster movie, fast action and great culmination. The story is a complete and well rounded. The friendship of the two protagonists of this film is very strongly played. Cagney and O'Brien (Fr. Jerry Connolly) are excellent in their roles. Perhaps it is the strongest, which comes as the icing on the cake after a whole and dismissed the scenario, just what constitutes the epilogue of the story about two friends. The relationship of good and evil set through the prism of truth and falsehood. Friends are separated at an early age, others are bound heart and soul, and yet each had their fight. I wonder what would have happened if the roles were replaced at the beginning of the film? In the eyes of the world you can be anything. In the eyes of friends only one. The film is a dramatic and action equally good. Acting with visible improvisation, is at a high level. Bogart, Sheridan and Bancroft are not especially imposed.

Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) and Jerry Connolly (Pat O'Brien) are childhood friends. In 1920, the two boys are chased by the police. Jerry managed to escape but Rocky is detained leading to a life of crime. Jerry becomes a priest and Rocky becomes a notorious gangster. James Frazier (Humphrey Bogart) is Rocky's corrupt lawyer. After getting out of prison, Rocky moves into a boarding house run by former classmate Laury Martin (Ann Sheridan). He takes an interest in a crew of petty criminals, The 'Dead End' Kids. The kids see him as their hero while Jerry tries to reform the boys. Rocky wants his share from Frazier and Frazier is willing to kill Rocky to keep it.The 'Dead End' Kids was a concept back in the day and this may be the best movie with this idea. In this one, they try to out-Cagney Cagney, but there is only one. He does his usual act plus much, much, more. It's a nice pairing with O'Brien and Bogie is a heavy. It's a classic crime melodrama of the highest quality.

This is one of the greatest movies from the 1930 decade, yet it doesn't seem to be all that remembered, which is a shame.Practically the whole movie is deeply involving. The film is well- made, the plot is solid, the image quality is 5 stars (without the "scratches" typical of most movies from that generation) and the cast is brilliant. We have, for example, the fabulous Dead End Kids and the great Humphrey Bogart, but it's James Cagney who really shines as "Rocky" Sullivan. "Rocky" is a very intense character and even though he is a gangster, somehow he is likable. James Cagney shines in an absolutely peerless performance. His face was very memorable too, as were his facial expressions and his fiery voice. Unmistakenly one of the all-time great actors, with a talent and charisma comparable to Peter Lorre and Vincent Price, for example.This movie has many surprises as well. One of them is the fact that the actor who played "Rocky" as a boy looks exactly like James Cagney. When "Rocky" grew up, I thought it was the same actor playing him from the start, because adult "Rocky" looked exactly the same as himself as a kid. By the way, the kids who play "Rocky" and Jerry as kids have terrific performances either.My absolute favorite part of this gr8 gangster-movie is the sequence in which "Rocky" is stuck in a building surrounded by the police and attempting to resist the toxic gases which are asphyxiating him, and how, despite his pride and efforts to resist, he realizes he won't get away so easy this time. The funniest scene, whoever, is when Ann Sheridan finally gets even with "Rocky" after 15 years by yanking his hat down over his ears and slapping him and then he sits down on that old bed and it collapses! So hilarious!The ending is unexpected because the penalty for "Rocky" is to get cooked in the "Old Sparky". Whether his cries are genuine or only to fulfill Father Jerry's final wish is unspecific, although I'd believe that they are genuine. I do feel bad for "Rocky", though. That penalty was too terrible for him and over the top for his crimes. What made me discover this movie was 'Home Alone' because of the movie that Kevin watches, 'Angels with filthy souls'. Until very little time ago I thought that the movie he was watching was real, but I found out that it was fictional and that those scenes were only made for 'Home Alone'. What a pity, I always wanted to see that movie. But I also found out that it was a parody to a real movie called 'Angels with dirty faces'. That was what took me to this great movie. But, much to my disappointment, there aren't such lines as «Keep the change, ya filthy animal!». I was expecting some line like that in the whole movie and I was very disappointed that there isn't any. Having that said, I don't like the movie any less for that.Title in Portugal: 'Anjos de cara negra'.