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The Beast of the City (1932)

Passed  -  Crime | Drama | Romance  -  13 February 1932 (USA)
6.9
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Ratings: 6.9/10 from 522 users  
Reviews: 18 user | 7 critic

Police Chief Jim Fitzpatrick ruthlessly goes after organized crime and is prepared to use brutal and violent methods to fight it.

Director:

Writers:

(story), (dialogue continuity), 1 more credit »
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Title: The Beast of the City (1932)

The Beast of the City (1932) on IMDb 6.9/10

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
Jim Fitzpatrick
...
Daisy
Wallace Ford ...
Ed Fitzpatrick
...
Sam Belmonte
Dorothy Peterson ...
Mary Fitzpatrick
Tully Marshall ...
Michaels
John Miljan ...
District Attorney
Emmett Corrigan ...
Chief of Police
Warner Richmond ...
Tom
Sandy Roth ...
Mac
J. Carrol Naish ...
Cholo
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Storyline

Police Chief Jim Fitzpatrick is fighting gangster Sam Belmonte. He asks his dishonest brother Ed to keep an eye on Daisy who was connected with Belmonte. Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Beware the hunters who stalk their prey through city jungles! See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Certificate:

Passed | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

13 February 1932 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

City Sentinels  »

Box Office

Budget:

$230,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Fifty-two minutes into the film Daisy (Jean Harlow) has a party at her place. On a small table against the back wall is a photo of Clark Gable, her co-star in Red Dust the same year. See more »

Quotes

Det. Ed Fitzpatrick: [Ed steps between Daisy and her front door] Don't kick me in the shin, or I'll smack your face!
Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont: All right, copper.
Det. Ed Fitzpatrick: How'd you come to think that one up?
Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont: Aw, you've got Headquarters written all over yuh!
Det. Ed Fitzpatrick: Smart girl, huh?
Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont: Yeah, and I never got past the eighth grade.
Det. Ed Fitzpatrick: Well, maybe you're bright enough to answer a few questions.
Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont: Sure, if you don't ask them in Yiddish!
[She pushes past him and goes into the door. Then suggestively]
Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont: Can you come in?
[...]
See more »

Connections

Featured in Harlow: The Blonde Bombshell (1993) See more »

Soundtracks

"Chopsticks"
(1877) (uncredited)
Traditional piano tune
Music by Euphemia Allen
Played on piano by Betty Mae Crane and Beverly Crane
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Support Your Local Police
2 December 2010 | by (Claremont,USA) – See all my reviews

The prologue says it all—people need to support the cops, not the gangsters. After all, it's 1932, the depths of the depression, and cops are seen by much of the public as enforcers of a broken system. Desperadoes like Dillinger, Baby-Face Nelson, and Bonnie & Clyde are romanticized as ordinary folks driven to robbing hated banks. At the same time, romanticizing films such as Public Enemy (1931) and Little Caesar (1931) are smash hits at the box-office. Tellingly, cops are depicted here as opposing a crime boss's (Belmonte) attempt to take over the city, not busting up strikes, enforcing repossessions, or chasing down dashing desperadoes.

It's a pretty good crime movie up to the ridiculous climax, where the two sides look like warring armies engaged in a frontier showdown. Why a police chief would deploy his men so recklessly is a real stretch. But, never mind, since there's a metaphorical point at stake here —namely, that police will honorably and bravely defend families no matter the personal cost to them, much as seen in popular Western movies. As a result, what makes for a positive social message is seen in the shootout as not necessarily translating into persuasive cinema.

Harlow makes for a convincing trollop—note her pre-Code liking for pain when properly done! Also, Walter Huston remains one of the fine forgotten actors from this period. Here, he again shows a real ability to convey strong emotion in an understated way. The movie also benefits from LA street locations. It's always a kick to see the styles and fashions from that long ago time. Anyway, taken in its time period, the movie remains very revealing in more ways than one.


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