Little Tough Guy (1938)

The son of a man sentenced to death for a murder he didn't commit vows to become a criminal himself. He starts his own street gang, and their crime spree is financed by a mysterious young ... See full summary »

Director:

Harold Young

Writers:

Gilson Brown, Brenda Weisberg (story)

Stars:

Robert Wilcox, Helen Parrish, Marjorie Main

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Wilcox	...	Paul Wilson
Helen Parrish	...	Kay Boylan
Marjorie Main	...	Mrs. Boylan
Jackie Searl	...	Cyril Gerrard
Peggy Stewart	...	Rita Belle
Helen MacKellar	...	Mrs. Wanamaker
Edward Pawley	...	Jim Boylan (as Ed Pawley)
Olin Howland	...	Baxter
Pat C. Flick	...	Peddler
Billy Halop	...	Johnny Boylan
Huntz Hall	...	'Pig'
Gabriel Dell	...	String
Bernard Punsly	...	Ape
Hal E. Chester	...	Dopey (as Hally Chester)
David Gorcey	...	Sniper

Storyline

The son of a man sentenced to death for a murder he didn't commit vows to become a criminal himself. He starts his own street gang, and their crime spree is financed by a mysterious young man--who turns out to be the son of the District Attorney who sent the boy's father to the electric chair.

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Plot Keywords:

sequel | little tough guys

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Taglines:

HERE AGAIN...TO JOLT YOU FROM YOUR SEATS! (original ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 July 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

En hård negl

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by The Angels Wash Their Faces (1939)

User Reviews

Very Thought Provoking Movie

This film gives great insight as to how life was for many "street" kids in NYC right after the depression and it is eerily similar to the plight of street kids in NYC today. The "dead end kids" is an awesome name. They are wanna be thugs; Violent, aggressive, uneducated, beligerent, witty and daring. One kid even wears a yankee baseball jersey with # 3 on the back just like the kids wear Derek Jeter jerseys today.)

Up until a few years ago, the lower east side was a similarly tough area, except it was inhabited by mostly people of color. Gentrification began in the 90s and has since transformed the lower east side into an affluent, yuppie filled, unaffordable place to live for the average citizen of any color in NYC.

While watching the movie, I listened to the street-slang and trouble-making behavior of the "dead end kids", and I couldn't help but saying to myself that this would be a so called "hood" film if it had been made today, like "Juice" starring Omar Epps and Tupac. Funny how the names and faces have changed, but the story is still the same.

Being from NYC myself, I felt suspended in time while watching it. My Mom was 2 and my father(may he rest in peace) was 11 in 1938.