John Garfield (Joe Lorenzo), Brenda Marshall (Laurie Romayne), William Lundigan Nick Lorenzo), Marjorie Rambeau (Mama Lorenzo), George Tobias (Tony Scaduto), Moroni Olsen (Judge Davis), Douglas Fowley (Cy Turner), Jack LaRue (Scarfi), Paul Guilfoyle (Balmy), Jack Carr (No-Neck Griswold), Russell Hicks (warden), Jimmy O'Gatty, Ralph Volkie (Turner's henchmen), Robert Homans (patrolman), Joe Conti (Joe, as a boy), O'Neill Nolan (Nick, as a boy), Murray Alper (Dink Rogers), Roy Barcroft, Pat O'Malley, Ralph Sanford (policemen), Eddy Chandler (railroad detective), Richard Clayton (delivery boy), Ann Edmonds (bridesmaid), Frank Faylen (tour guide), Frank Mayo, Jack Mower, Cliff Saum (prison guards), Sol Gorss (prisoner), Fred Graham (policeman that Joe punches), Edward Fielding (university president), Creighton Hale (casino manager), Arch Hendricks (Sergeant McNamara), George Lloyd (man with letter), Jerry Mandy (Lombardo), William Marshall (commencement usher), Howard M. Mitchell (detective), Armand "Curly" Wright (Bruno), Edwin Stanley (commencement speaker), Hector Sarno (Pop, a diner), Al Rhein (blackjack dealer), William Pawley (Dave Carter).
Director: ALFRED E. GREEN. Screenplay: Fred Niblo, junior. Story: John Fante, Ross B. Wills. Photography: Sid Hickox. Film editor: Thomas Pratt. Art director: Hugh Reticker. Gowns designed by Howard Shoup. Make-up: Perc Westmore. Music: Adolph Deutsch. Music director: Leo F. Forbstein. Dialogue director: Hugh MacMullan. Technical adviser: Marie Jenardi. Assistant director: Lester D. Guthrie. Sound recording: Stanley Jones. Associate producer: Harlan Thompson. Producer: Bryan Foy.
Copyright 9 November 1940 by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Globe: 26 October 1940. Australian release: 30 January 1942. 8 reels. 6,739 feet. 74 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Two delinquent boys from the New York slums are given a second chance by a sympathetic judge. One goes straight, the other lands in jail.
COMMENT: John Garfield gives his typical role a good try in this entry from Bryan Foy's "B" unit at Warner Bros. Unfortunately, he is badly let down by two of his fellow thespians.
In fact, I would describe Marjorie Rambeau's efforts in this movie as one of the worst performances of all time. For sheer, unconvincing hamminess, it would be hard to beat.
True, George Tobias makes a sterling effort to run her close, but Miss Rambeau (assisted by a remarkably indulgent director) has the game sewn up. No-one can roll their eyes and make with the ridiculously phony accent like Miss Rambeau. Mr. Tobias is just not in the same league.
The other players, led by Brenda Marshall and William Lundigan, make a bit of effort to bring the story down to earth, but are often defeated by the corny script. Only the heavies, particularly Douglas Fowley and Paul Guilfoyle, really impress.
Director: ALFRED E. GREEN. Screenplay: Fred Niblo, junior. Story: John Fante, Ross B. Wills. Photography: Sid Hickox. Film editor: Thomas Pratt. Art director: Hugh Reticker. Gowns designed by Howard Shoup. Make-up: Perc Westmore. Music: Adolph Deutsch. Music director: Leo F. Forbstein. Dialogue director: Hugh MacMullan. Technical adviser: Marie Jenardi. Assistant director: Lester D. Guthrie. Sound recording: Stanley Jones. Associate producer: Harlan Thompson. Producer: Bryan Foy.
Copyright 9 November 1940 by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Globe: 26 October 1940. Australian release: 30 January 1942. 8 reels. 6,739 feet. 74 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Two delinquent boys from the New York slums are given a second chance by a sympathetic judge. One goes straight, the other lands in jail.
COMMENT: John Garfield gives his typical role a good try in this entry from Bryan Foy's "B" unit at Warner Bros. Unfortunately, he is badly let down by two of his fellow thespians.
In fact, I would describe Marjorie Rambeau's efforts in this movie as one of the worst performances of all time. For sheer, unconvincing hamminess, it would be hard to beat.
True, George Tobias makes a sterling effort to run her close, but Miss Rambeau (assisted by a remarkably indulgent director) has the game sewn up. No-one can roll their eyes and make with the ridiculously phony accent like Miss Rambeau. Mr. Tobias is just not in the same league.
The other players, led by Brenda Marshall and William Lundigan, make a bit of effort to bring the story down to earth, but are often defeated by the corny script. Only the heavies, particularly Douglas Fowley and Paul Guilfoyle, really impress.