Dead End (1937)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

Sidney Kingsley (play)
Lillian Hellman (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 August 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

THE GREATEST GANGSTER THRILLER THAT EVER EXPLODED FROM THE SCREEN! (1944 reissue print ad - all caps)

Plot:

The Dead End Kids, an unemployed architect, and gangster Baby Face Martin interact with an East Side neighborhood over one day and night.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Architect | Dead End Kids | Slum | Murderer

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars.

Cast

Sylvia Sidney	...	Drina Gordon
Joel McCrea	...	Dave Connell
Humphrey Bogart	...	Hugh 'Baby Face' Martin
Wendy Barrie	...	Kay Burton
Claire Trevor	...	Francey
Allen Jenkins	...	Hunk
Marjorie Main	...	Mrs. Martin
Billy Halop	...	Tommy Gordon
Huntz Hall	...	Dippy 'Dip'
Bobby Jordan	...	Angel
Leo Gorcey	...	Spit (as Leo B. Gorcey)
Gabriel Dell	...	T. B.
Bernard Punsly	...	Milton 'Milty'
Charles Peck	...	Philip Griswald
Minor Watson	...	Mr. Griswald

Also Known As:

Dead End: Cradle of Crime (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Germany:12 (2005) | Finland:K-15 (2001) | Finland:K-16 (1966) | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Finland:(Banned) (1937) | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #3596) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

This was the first appearance of the Dead End Kids who later evolved into the East Side Kids and later the Bowery Boys.

Quotes:

Milton 'Milty': You think I'm some dope?
Spit: Yeah, a dope what smells on ice.
Tommy Gordon: Stand up to him, Milty. Stand up to him.
Milton 'Milty': What's a matter? You wanna fight?
Spit: Yeah.
Milton 'Milty': Ya do?
Spit: Yeah!
Milton 'Milty': Well, join the army!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Engefalos me vida... kai valvida!!! (1988) (V)

Soundtrack:

Girl of My Dreams

Could Be Made Today

This movie is not only a great story, it is a great social commentary on the divisions between rich and poor. The main story concerns the return of a gangster to his old neighborhood, but a couple of side stories concern the gang of kids who seemingly idolize the hood and the rich people who live in a luxury apartment that is next to the slum. This film could be made today because the conditions that are in the film still exist today only they are a hundred times worse because the gap between the rich and the poor in this country have widened even more. This film should be shown more on television