Complete credited cast: | |||
James Cagney | ... | Joe Greer | |
Joan Blondell | ... | Anne Scott | |
Ann Dvorak | ... | Lee Merrick | |
Eric Linden | ... | Edward 'Eddie' Greer | |
Guy Kibbee | ... | Pop Greer | |
Frank McHugh | ... | Spud Connors | |
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Billy Arnold | ... | Billy Arnold |
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Leo Nomis | ... | Jim |
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Fred Frame | ... | Fred Frame |
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Ralph Hepburn | ... | Ralph Hepburn |
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Wilbur Shaw | ... | Wilbur Shaw |
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Shorty Cantlon | ... | Shorty Cantlon |
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Mel Keneally | ... | Mel Keneally |
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Stubby Stubblefield | ... | Stubby Stubblefield |
Famous motor-racing champion Joe Greer returns to his hometown to compete in a local race. He discovers his younger brother has aspirations to become a racing champion and during the race Joe loses his nerve when another driver his killed, leaving his brother to win. Joe's luck takes a plunge while his brother rises to height of fame. Written by Col Needham <col@imdb.com>
Race car driver Joe Greer (James Cagney) deals with personal problems while trying to train his brother to be a driver.
The Crowd Roars is probably only of interest to racing buffs and Jimmy Cagney fans. Being one of the latter, it does feature a very good performance from Cagney as the cocksure driver who laters becomes a disillusioned bum.
Despite being second billed, Joan Blondell is given little to do as the girlfriend of Cagney's brother. Ann Dvorak gets a showy part as Cagney's long-suffering girlfriend, and, being an early 30s Warner Brothers film, Frank McHugh and Guy Kibbee have bit parts. Eric Linden is a tad annoying as Cagney's brothers.
The racing sequences are well staged by Howard Hawks, and there's a particularly nasty sequence where Frank McHugh's character is killed. Overall, it's entertaining, and doesn't overstay it's welcome.