Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19309 in VHS
• Released on: 2000-07-05
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 97 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
Gangster Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) returns from prison to make a name for himself in the crime world. He's soon discovered by the Dead End Kids, who idolize him, and childhood pal Father Jerry Connolly (Pat O'Brien). The good Father has taken a different turn from Rocky and is struggling to bring the Kids around; while still friends with Rocky, he tries to persuade him to steer clear of the gang of urchins. Rocky runs afoul of the law, however, when he guns down his former partners Frazier (Humphrey Bogart) and Keefer (George Bancroft) after they betray him over a cut of crime-related profits. Seen as a whole, Angels with Dirty Faces may seem dated to many viewers, but its ending is still enough to bring chills. Director Michael Curtiz infused this gritty 1938 effort with an amazing amount of energy and pacing; the Dead End Kids, in their screen debut, supply a fair amount of comic relief along with their dramatic roles. It's also worth noting that at the time, the notion of a criminal being a product of his environment was a controversial one. The swaggering bantam-rooster role played by Cagney, one of the screen's greats, helped define how he would be perceived (and parodied) for years to come. This movie easily stands along with The Roaring Twenties and Little Caesar as one of the most important, archetypal gangster films of the '30s. --Jerry Renshaw

Customer Reviews

"Whaddya hear? Whaddya say?"
"Angels with Dirty Faces" is one of the greatest gangster pictures of the 1930's, a decade which saw many great ones. Some people might be turned off by the old style acting (When people shoot, it seems more like they are punching). But I very much enjoyed this movie, and I'm only 14! (Some plot spoilers).

James Cagney is "Rocky" Sullivan, who as a kid was driven to a life of crime by an arrest. Cagney gives what some consider his definitive gangster performance, which was awarded by the New York Film Critics as best actor, but was not awarded by the academy. Pat O'Brien is his childhood friend Jerry Connolly, who is now a priest. He is concerned with Sullivan's involvement on a group of kids, believing that he is influencing them in a life of crime. He vows to fight organized crime, even if that means crushing his friend.

Before he was a major star, Humphrey Bogart was a supporting player who made a major impact. In here, he plays Sullivan's lawyer, who tries to knock off Rocky after his release from prison. There is also Ann Sheridan as Laury, a love interest to Sullivan, and there are also the Dead End Kids (Led by Billy Halop as "Soapy").

I will make this short and sweet. You must see this movie. If you want more, you must own this movie. Thank You.

"'morning gentlemen. Nice day for a murder."
Slightly dated and just a little too sentimental towards the end ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is still a great movie mainly due to James Cagney's high-powered performance as life long criminal Rocky Sullivan.

After his latest prison stint Rocky returns to his old neighborhood looking to get in on some of the action. Childhood friend and now priest, Pat O'Brien, is glad to see his old buddy but worries about Sullivan's influence on the local kids who idolize his violent ways.

Sullivan's aggressive behavior doesn't sit too well with local bosses George Bancroft and Humphrey Bogart, so before too long the lead gets to flying.

The scenes with Cagney (which are the majority of the film) are great, but the stuff with The Dead End Kids is annoying. They acted like a bunch of wannabe tough guys doing a "Three Stooges" routine. Ann Sheridan, while not being on the screen near enough, is beautiful. I've always found her to be one of the hottest women of the Golden Age.

Followed, in name only, by ANGELS WASH THEIR FACES starring Ann Sheridan and Ronald Reagan.

Cagney and O'Brien also starred together in HERE COMES THE NAVY (1934), CEILING ZERO (1935), DEVIL DOGS OF THE AIR (1935), THE IRISH IN US (1935), BOY MEETS GIRL (1938), THE FIGHTING 69TH (1940), TORRID ZONE (1940) and RAGTIME (1981).

Also if you look fast enough you'll notice Harry Hayden as the pharmacist during the drug store attack. Harry starred bit parts and supporting roles in close to 250 films including MR.SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, HIGH SIERRA (another pharmacist), NOTORIOUS, THE KILLERS, FURY, OUT OF THE PAST and 7 movies by the great Preston Sturges.


D: Michael Curtiz (MILDRED PIERCE, LIFE WITH FATHER)

William `Rocky Sullivan - James Cagney (EACH DAWN I DIE, MISTER ROBERTS)
Father Jerome `Jerry' Connelly - Pat O'Brien (SOME LIKE IT HOT, BOMBSHELL)
James `Jim' Frazier - Humphrey Bogart (THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT, HIGH SIERRA)
Laury Ferguson - Ann Sheridan (THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT, KINGS ROW)
Mac Keefer - George Bancroft (STAGECOACH, EACH DAWN I DIE)

The Cagney You'll Remember
Of all the Cagney films I've seen, and I've seen a lot of them, this is the way that I always remember him. He's tough talking, swaggering, with the hint of a good guy that never got a break and was destined for a life of crime. Cagney is amazing in this role, and you'll recognize so many of the mannerisms and speech patterns that became his trademark and part of his legend. Pat O'Brien also makes a good impression in his role as Father Connelly, and this type of role is what he is well remembered for, too. It's a basic story of two friends, and one goes down the right road, while the other goes down the wrong road. The movie is fast, full of memorable moments, and the last scenes will stay with you for a long time. This is one of those "they don't make them like that anymore" movies, and it's a must-see for anyone who likes Cagney, gangster films, old films, or simply good movies.