The Devil Takes the Count (1936)
"The Devil Is a Sissy" (original title)

A well-bred young English lad living in lower Manhattan tries to gain acceptance from his not-so-well-bred peers at school.

Director:

W.S. Van Dyke

Writers:

John Lee Mahin (screenplay), Richard Schayer (screenplay),

Stars:

Freddie Bartholomew, Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Freddie Bartholomew	...	Claude Pierce
Jackie Cooper	...	'Buck' Murphy
Mickey Rooney	...	'Gig' Stevens
Ian Hunter	...	Jay Pierce
Peggy Conklin	...	Rose Hawley
Katharine Alexander	...	Hilda Pierce
Gene Lockhart	...	Mr. Jim Murphy
Kathleen Lockhart	...	Mrs. Murphy
Jonathan Hale	...	Judge Holmes
Etienne Girardot	...	Mr. Crusenberry - the Principal
Sherwood Bailey	...	'Bugs'
Buster Slaven	...	Six-Toes
Grant Mitchell	...	Paul Krumpp
Harold Huber	...	Willie - a Gangster
Stanley Fields	...	Joe - a Gangster

Storyline

Claude Pierce is delighted to move in with his father, Jay Pierce, a struggling architect living in lower Manhattan, for the six months the divorce agreement of his parents specified. He's come at a particularly bad time for his classmate, Gig Stevens, whose father is to be executed that night for murder, so he's treated badly by Gig as well as Gig's pal, Buck Murphy, and their gang. But he takes boxing lessons and holds his own in a fight with the older and heavier Buck, so he is grudgingly accepted into the gang. Their chief interest is to get a proper tombstone for Gig's father, costing $80. When stealing and selling tires proves too slow, Claude suggests burglarizing some rich kid's home for his toys, and pawning them. Claude leads them to a house at night, where rich looking toys are found, stolen and pawned. However, a suspicious policeman has them brought before a judge where Claude eventually confesses they were his toys; he knew his mother was away and the house was ...

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | probation | police | judge | architect | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

18 September 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

3 Pequenos Gangsters

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several people are in studio records/casting call lists as cast members, but they did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): Rollo Lloyd (Pawnbroker), Mary Doran (Mrs. Robbins), Jason Robards Sr. (Mr. Kraus), Harry Tyler (Toy Vendor) and Ben Hendricks Jr. (Cop).

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Goofs

When the boys are running away towards the end and meet in the cemetery, there's a part in the scene where you can see a man walking across in the background.

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Quotes

Hilda Pierce: [on New York City] Well, all I see is squalor and dirt. And unpleasantly swarthy people.

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Connections

References Raffles (1930)

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Soundtracks

"The Sidewalks of New York"
(1894) (uncredited)
Music by Charles Lawlor and James W. Blake
Played during the opening credits

User Reviews

Three Hoodlum Musketeers

Great opportunity to see three of the biggest child actors of the 1930s, at different stages in their careers. The 1930s started with Jackie Cooper on top; then, mid-decade, Freddie Bartholomew ruled; and, finally, Mickey Rooney reigned. This film was made during Mr. Bartholomew's peak of popularity.

After some promising scenes, it becomes obvious Bartholomew, Cooper, and Rooney are not being well served by the production. Some of their scenes appear rushed; at times, it looks as if they are rehearsing alongside each other, rather than acting together. Possibly, this is due to director W.S. Van Dyke being assigned to the film, after the firing of Rowland Brown. Mr. Van Dyke was known for his sometimes hurried direction. Still, the actors are professional, and earnest; and, some on-screen rapport is in evidence.

Rowland Brown's story is excellent - much more realistic than several similar 1930s "young hoodlum" dramas. Rooney gets the best part; and, naturally, he makes the most of it; scene stealers Bartholomew and Cooper wouldn't have missed a similar opportunity. This is one of Rooney's best-written, best-performed early roles; he is a terrific actor, and his portrayal of "Gig Stevens" should be more renown. Writer Brown, fired as the film's director, would go on to pen "Angels with Dirty Faces". With some more care, this film might have been as classic.

******* The Devil Is a Sissy (9/18/36) W.S. Van Dyke ~ Freddie Bartholomew, Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney, Peggy Conklin