Angels with Dirty Faces

We're introduced to Rocky Sullivan together with pal Jerome Connolly as grubby kids in Hells Kitchen New York. They go their separate ways after Rocky goes down on a three year stretch shielding Jerry. Meeting up 15 years later, they're still pals even though they have different lifestyles - Rocky the hard man, Jerry the priest. However when Rocky starts to influence the kids from the ghetto that Jerry is trying to save from the evils of crime, things have to take a different turn.

Hard to think that this film was made in 1938, only 10 years after the first 'talkie' only by the slightly overbearing music and fast speech you would know. James Cagney, eight years into his career and yet already on his 30th film, shows his brilliance here. His outstanding performance as the wisecracking and loyal Rocky is weighed up by his ruthlessness at persuing the money he's owed, and the dame he's fancied since childhood. Pat O'Brien as kindly priest Jerry was the first role in which he was to play a priest, I guess he had that kinda face.

This is one of those films of which my dad would say 'they don't make 'em like this any more', and for all the melodrama, and smart comebacks, you gotta agree on this one. The ending is one of the greatest in film - was he yeller? Watch it for yourself.

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CategoryFilm