The Doorway to Hell (1930)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Archie Mayo

Writers:

Rowland Brown (story)
George Rosener (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 October 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Lou Ricarno is a smart guy. His plan is to organize the various gangs in Chicago so that the mugs will not liquidate each other...

Plot Keywords:

Telegram | Brother | Meeting | Gunfire | Radio Broadcasting

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Lew Ayres	...	Louie Ricarno
Charles Judels	...	Sam Marconi - Florist (scenes deleted)
Dorothy Mathews	...	Doris Ricarno
Leon Janney	...	Jackie Lamarr
Robert Elliott	...	Captain Pat O'Grady
James Cagney	...	Steve Mileaway
Kenneth Thomson	...	Captain of Academy
Jerry Mandy	...	Gimpy - a Gangster
Noel Madison	...	Rocco
Edwin Argus	...	The Midget
Eddie Kane	...	Dr. Morton
Tom Wilson	...	Big Shot Kelly - a Gangster
Dwight Frye	...	Monk - a Gangster

Also Known As:

A Handful of Clouds (UK)

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

No information about the publication of Rowland Brown's story, "A Handful of Clouds," has been found; it may not have been published.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: What appears to be a typo in the gangland slaughter headline of the newspaper Louie reads in the boarding house -- it reads 'grewsome' instead of 'gruesome' -- is in fact an acceptable variant that was more popular at the time the film was released.

Quotes:

Title Card: [closing title] The "Doorway to Hell" is a one-way door. There is no retribution - no plea for further clemency. The little boy walked through it with his head up and a smile on his lips. They gave him a funeral - a swell funeral that stopped traffic - and then they forgot him before the roses had a chance to wilt.

Soundtrack:

Taps

early screen appearances by later stars - good story

A pretty good crime drama of its time, on a par with PUBLIC ENEMY, LITTLE CEASAR, and others of the genre,good acting, too.Excellent acting by a very young Lew Ayres, an up-and-coming yet unknown James Cagney, here listed way down in the cast of players as a secondary, and I particularly enjoyed the fine characterization by pre-Dracula Dwight Frye. Much better than the common, cheesy melodramas of the period,this one holds the interest better due to its inferences and unseen sub-plots, an early gem by director Archie Mayo, ahead of its time for its imaginative storyline, and great scene shots, a captivating film as a whole simply for standing out among the rest! Watch this one, it's very good!!