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Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
26 November 1938 (USA) moreTagline:
The saga of America's dirty faced kids... And the breaks that life won't give them! morePlot:
Rocky Sullivan and Jerry Connolly were tough kids who grew up together in the toughest part of New York --- Hell's Kitchen... more | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win moreNewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Raising free-range kids (From Roger Ebert's Blog. 30 June 2009, 5:45 AM, PDT)
Pros And Cons
(From New York Post. 3 May 2009, 12:22 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
WILL THE CIRCLE REMAIN UNBROKEN??? moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| James Cagney | ... | Rocky Sullivan | |
| Pat O'Brien | ... | Jerry Connolly | |
| Humphrey Bogart | ... | James Frazier | |
| Ann Sheridan | ... | Laury Ferguson | |
| George Bancroft | ... | Mac Keefer | |
| Billy Halop | ... | Soapy | |
| Bobby Jordan | ... | Swing | |
| Leo Gorcey | ... | Bim | |
| Gabriel Dell | ... | Pasty | |
| Huntz Hall | ... | Crab | |
| Bernard Punsly | ... | Hunky (as Bernard Punsley) | |
| Joe Downing | ... | Steve | |
| Edward Pawley | ... | Edwards | |
| Adrian Morris | ... | Blackie | |
| Frankie Burke | ... | Rocky - as a Boy |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
97 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Norway:16 (1939) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Portugal:M/12 | UK:A (1938) (cut) | UK:PG (1986) | Sweden:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:G (cable rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Chile:18 | Finland:(Banned) (1939-1950) | Finland:K-16 (1950) | USA:Approved (PCA #4496) | Germany:12Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The moment in which Rocky forces a trailing hood to take his place inside the phone booth in the pharmacy to get killed was inspired by the death of New York gangster Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll. In the real incident, Coll was locked in a gang war with "Dutch" Schultz. During the war, Coll hid in an apartment above a pharmacy and would only come out to go into the pharmacy and call his girlfriend from the phone booth. Dutch found out about this and when Coll went to make his routine phone call, two of Schultz's gun men walked in and shot Coll to death. moreGoofs:
Miscellaneous: Rocky's head is not shaved in any way prior to his walk to the electric chair. This is a customary procedure for the placement of the head electrode. moreQuotes:
[first lines]Jerry, As a Boy: Bulls eye!
William 'Rocky' Sullivan, as a boy: It's as dead as a door nail around here.
Jerry, As a Boy: Yeah.
more
Soundtrack:
In My Merry Oldsmobile moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
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| 'Nice day for murder...' | KingFritzLang |
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This film is included on my personal top 10 list. The old-time ethnic slums (?) of New York City in the 20's and 30's are a picaresque window to another time. One where gangsters were heroes (to some) and filled newspapers with their exploits. Tales of crime and riches are like candy to the gangs of kids living in poverty, while seeking their own escape to something better. They could only learn from experience, what Rocky Sullivan (Cagney) already knew, there is no honor among thieves. No honor, and no road back for Rocky. But, sometimes, for someone else, fate gets a push.
A very interesting, fast-paced story, I recommend this highly. The transition from Rocky's childhood to his adult years is especially well done and cast. In 'spirited' discussions with friends, we STILL don't agree on Rocky's thoughts and motivations at the end of the film. WAS HE GIVEN AN 'OUT' ? WAS HE HERO OR COWARD? WAS IT WHAT HE WANTED? WAS IT IMPOSED ON HIM? WAS IT CALCULATED OR DID IT POUR OUT UNCONTROLLABLY? Judge for yourself. After a few viewings, it's not as simple as it appears......