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Picture Snatcher (1933)

 -  Drama | Crime  -  6 May 1933 (USA)
7.0
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Ratings: 7.0/10 from 650 users  
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Ex-convict Danny Kean decides to become honest as a photographer for a paper. He falls in love with Patricia, the daughter of the policeman who arrested him. Mr Nolan, her father, doesn't ... See full summary »

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(based on a story by), (adaptation), 3 more credits »
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Title: Picture Snatcher (1933)

Picture Snatcher (1933) on IMDb 7/10

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
Danny
...
McLean
Patricia Ellis ...
Patricia
Alice White ...
Allison
Ralf Harolde ...
Jerry the Mug
Robert Emmett O'Connor ...
Lieutenant Casey Nolan
Robert Barrat ...
Grover - Graphic News Owner
G. Pat Collins ...
Hennessy the Fireman (as George Pat Collins)
Arthur Vinton ...
John - the Head Keeper
Tom Wilson ...
Leo
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Storyline

Ex-convict Danny Kean decides to become honest as a photographer for a paper. He falls in love with Patricia, the daughter of the policeman who arrested him. Mr Nolan, her father, doesn't like that relation at first, but McLean, Kean's boss, convinces him of Kean's good nature. But Kean uses his relation to Patricia to make a photo of an execution. Due to this, Nolan loses his stripes and Kean isn't allowed to see Patricia any longer. But when one of his former friends kills two policemen, Kean sees his chance.... Written by Stephan Eichenberg <eichenbe@fak-cbg.tu-muenchen.de>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

His camera takes 'em from love nests to Page One before they can bat an eye---or put on a negligee!

Genres:

Drama | Crime

Certificate:

Not Rated
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Details

Country:

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Release Date:

6 May 1933 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Der Mann mit der Kamera  »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

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Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene of Danny photographing an execution is based an actual incident in which Chicago-based crime photographer Tom Howard (who was the grandfather of 'George Wendt') surreptitiously snapped the famous photo of convicted murderess Ruth Snyder's January 12, 1928 execution in the electric chair at Sing Sing for the New York Daily News. See more »

Goofs

Cagney's suit goes from dirty to clean to dirty again during the car chase from Sing Sing and the subsequent subway ride. See more »

Quotes

[Danny is giving a tour of his newspaper's printing room]
Journalism Student: Yes, here it is - white wood pulp, plain white... Why, today it's raw, but tonight it's cooked with printer's ink, photographic art, the sweat of creative effort. Tomorrow it goes out and hundreds of thousands of men and women feed their starving, mediocre souls on the indiscretions and adventures of others. And then, a little while later, what is it?
Danny Kean: Don't you know? They use it to wrap herring.
See more »

Connections

References 42nd Street (1933) See more »

Soundtracks

"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"
(1918) (uncredited)
Music by James Kendis, James Brockman and Nat Vincent
Played as background piano music in the bar
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User Reviews

 
Early Papparazzi
24 June 2005 | by (New York) – See all my reviews

James Cagney, who was always so intense, as the 'bad guy' in most of his movies, seems to be having a great time in "Picture Snatcher', this 1933 film directed by Lloyd Bacon.

In fact, Danny Kean, is first seen being released from jail, after serving three years, but he has had enough of the crime life. He tells his criminal friends he wants out. Not knowing what to do, he decides to try his hand at photo journalism by applying to be a news photographer at the Graphic News. The friendly editor, Al Mclean, decides to give him a break.

Thus begins Danny's adventures as a news photographer that gets the right picture, at the right moment for his paper. He also finds happiness with Pat, the lovely daughter of a friendly policeman. At the same time, he is being the object of a co-worker's desire, something he wants no part of, since he has decided to go straight.

The great James Cagney is a joy to watch in the film. He was a charismatic actor that is always excellent no matter what he did. Another surprise is Ralph Bellamy, who played the editor that decides to give the ex-con a break. The lovely Patricia Ellis is the object of Danny's affections. Alice White plays a bad girl that wants to get Danny for herself.

The film will not disappoint fans of Mr. Cagney for the change of pace it represented and the fun one gets by watching it.


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