Bad Boy (1935)

Poolroom ace Eddie marries his girlfriend Sally but can't find work so he sends her back to her family. Things improve after he catches some crooks.

Director:

John G. Blystone

Writers:

Viña Delmar (by), Allen Rivkin (screenplay)

Stars:

James Dunn, Dorothy Wilson, Louise Fazenda

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Dunn	...	Eddie Nolan
Dorothy Wilson	...	Sally Larkin
Louise Fazenda	...	Mrs. Harris - Landlady
Victor Kilian	...	Sid
John Wray	...	Fred Larkin
Luis Alberni	...	Tony - Ice Cream Vendor
Beulah Bondi	...	Mrs. Larkin
Allen Vincent	...	Bob Carey

Storyline

Eddie Nolan is a good-hearted layabout who scrounges a living as a pool shark. He wants to marry his girl Sally, but without a respectable job, he can't. Things are made worse when Eddie hustles a man who turns out to be Sally's father. When some gangsters put the squeeze on, Eddie and Sally try to save the day.

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Plot Keywords:

soda | convertible | landlady | domestic | contestant | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

25 October 1935 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their announced character names): Irving Bacon (Butcher), Margaret Bloodgood (Irish Woman), Anne O'Neal (Mrs. Weise), Samuel E. Hines (Husband), Betty Farrington (Wife), Esther Michelson (Jewish Woman), Mariska Aldrich (German Woman), Edna Bennett (Saleswoman), Ann Doran (Telegraph Clerk), Frank Moran (Detective Jake), 'West Virginia Ramblers' (Hillbilly Act) and Jerry Mandy (Greek Counterman). A New York Times reviewer wrote "A victim of the cutting room and other departments, 'Bad Boy' seems to have been manufactured in a terrible hurry."

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Soundtracks

"When You and I Were Young, Maggie"
(1866) (uncredited)
Music by J.A. Butterfield
Played on many instruments by Bob Witt

User Reviews

It's a Wonderful Hustler

Bad Boy (1935)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

A pool shark (James Dunn) wants to marry the love of his life (Dorothy Wilson) but her parents refuse because they believe he's nothing but a hood. To prove them wrong, the man goes out looking for a legit job but when he can't find one he starts to believe that he has nothing to live for. I guess you could call this an early version of It's a Wonderful Life as it deals with many of the same story lines. This film certainly isn't in the same league as that Capra classic but this is a worthy little effort for a 56-minute movie. This was only my second time seeing Dunn but he manages to pull off a pretty good and charming performance and Wilson is just as good. The ending is way too abrupt and out of nowhere but this is a worthy viewing.