Angels With Dirty Faces

Michael Curtiz
1938

A lot of great elements are at play in this early Warner's gangster pic. Cagney plays a real hero gangster: a character who you can comfortably root for through the film's entirety, which seems pretty unlikely during a time when there was immense pressure on Hollywood by watchdog groups to make the talkies socially responsible.

Cagney's fresh out of jail and moves back to the old neighborhood where he meets his childhood friend, and now priest Jerry Connelly (Pat O' Brien). Throw in a dame and a pack of gangster-worshipping hoodlum children, then mix it with Father Connelly's mission to end the city's rampant corruption and you've got a great picture focusing on the depth of friendship and human nobility.

Its a little difficult to buy that Cagney never once raises his fist in anger towards the preacher man, a guy who constantly asks favors and ultimately takes part in the gangster's death (not to mention his subsequent stripped manhood). The film ends with a beautiful sacrifice by the rough and tumble gangster. While Father Jerry's initials may be J.C so are James Cagney's, and ultimately its him who dies for the hope and salvation of humanity. The kid actors are a great touch and there's a lot of great performances there. I'm also always amazed with the youths they get to play the young Cagney in these gangster pictures. Finally, there's a good amount of gunplay in this film which is often surprisingly absent from these old Warner Bros films.

Review By Brett A. Scieszka