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IMDbPro

The Finger Points

  • 19311931
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
458
YOUR RATING
Richard Barthelmess in The Finger Points (1931)
CrimeDrama
A rookie reporter receives bribes from gangsters to suspend negative press.A rookie reporter receives bribes from gangsters to suspend negative press.A rookie reporter receives bribes from gangsters to suspend negative press.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
458
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Francis Dillon
  • Writers
    • John Monk Saunders(by)
    • W.R. Burnett(by)
    • Robert Lord(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Richard Barthelmess
    • Fay Wray
    • Regis Toomey
  • Director
    • John Francis Dillon
  • Writers
    • John Monk Saunders(by)
    • W.R. Burnett(by)
    • Robert Lord(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Richard Barthelmess
    • Fay Wray
    • Regis Toomey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos22

    Regis Toomey and Fay Wray in The Finger Points (1931)
    Clark Gable and Richard Barthelmess in The Finger Points (1931)
    Clark Gable and Richard Barthelmess in The Finger Points (1931)
    Richard Barthelmess and Fay Wray in The Finger Points (1931)
    Clark Gable in The Finger Points (1931)
    Richard Barthelmess and Fay Wray in The Finger Points (1931)
    Richard Barthelmess, Oscar Apfel, Mickey Bennett, Robert Elliott, and Fay Wray in The Finger Points (1931)
    Richard Barthelmess and Regis Toomey in The Finger Points (1931)
    Richard Barthelmess and Fay Wray in The Finger Points (1931)
    Clark Gable, Richard Barthelmess, and Regis Toomey in The Finger Points (1931)
    Regis Toomey in The Finger Points (1931)
    Fay Wray in The Finger Points (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Barthelmess
    Richard Barthelmess
    • Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee
    Fay Wray
    Fay Wray
    • Marcia Collins
    Regis Toomey
    Regis Toomey
    • Charlie 'Breezy' Russell
    Robert Elliott
    Robert Elliott
    • Frank Carter
    Clark Gable
    Clark Gable
    • Louis J. Blanco
    Oscar Apfel
    Oscar Apfel
    • Ellis Wheeler
    Robert Gleckler
    Robert Gleckler
    • Larry Hayes--Sphinx Club Manager
    Noel Madison
    Noel Madison
    • Larry Hayes
    • (scenes deleted)
    Mickey Bennett
    Mickey Bennett
    • Arthur--Office Boy
    • (uncredited)
    James P. Burtis
    James P. Burtis
    • Cop
    • (uncredited)
    Martin Cichy
    Martin Cichy
    • Blanco's Bodyguard
    • (uncredited)
    Lew Harvey
    Lew Harvey
    • Henchman in Office of 'Number One'
    • (uncredited)
    Herman Krumpfel
    • Breck's Tailor
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Marlowe
    Frank Marlowe
    • Guard in Office of 'Number One'
    • (uncredited)
    Frank McLure
    Frank McLure
    • Casino Patron
    • (uncredited)
    J. Carrol Naish
    J. Carrol Naish
    • Threatening Phone Caller
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Field Norton
    • Casino Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Bob Perry
    Bob Perry
    • Henchman in Hayes' House
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Francis Dillon
    • Writers
      • John Monk Saunders(by) (dialogue)
      • W.R. Burnett(by)
      • Robert Lord(adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film is loosely based on Chicago Tribune reporter Jake Lingle, who was shot and killed the day before he was to meet with federal agents in connection with Al Capone's finances. There was public outrage at first over the killing of a reporter, but over the next few weeks it was discovered that Lingle was living way beyond his reporter's salary, and finally that he was on Capone's payroll.
    • Goofs
      When the front page of The Press is shown with the heading "Gang War Rages," one of the stories is entitled "Star Received with Great Ovation" and "received" is incorrectly spelled "recieved."
    • Quotes

      Managing Editor Ellis Wheeler: This community is in bad shape indeed, when gangsters can perpetrate murder in broad daylight and get away with it. But there's one power in this town with sufficient courage to do what is right. And that power is The Press. The Press is going to break up the criminal gangs that infest this city and drive them out. The Press is going to expose every corrupt official preying on the community. The Press cannot be bought, intimidated or silenced. It's going to be war; a crusade, if you like. A crusade to destroy gang rule. From now on, you are more than reporters, you're crusaders and you're going to bear down on the underworld with all the power of The Press. We're going to make a fight of it. You can get your assignments from the City Editor.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Funeral March (Marche Funèbre)
      (uncredited)

      from "Sonata in Bb-, Op.35 No.2"

      Music by Frédéric Chopin

      Played after Lee's death

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Interesting Crime/Reporter Drama
    This is another film I had to see in my unhealthy quest to see all of the available Fay Wray films out there. However, this film surprised me, as it was a pretty good story. It also has a young Clark Gable as a gangster in a scene stealing role that demonstrates his star power very early in his career.

    The plot has been covered in other reviews, so I'll keep my review short.

    The pluses: Fay looks great, Clark Gable is good, and the story is solid and interesting.

    The minuses: Richard Barthelmess is fine, but being from the south, he shouldn't have even tried the accent.

    Overall a fine film and definitely worth a viewing.
    helpful•2
    1
    • kitchent
    • Dec 29, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 11, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mannen som visste för mycket
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • First National Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

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