Review of Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) by David C — 27 May 2013

If this movie makes a misstep, it is letting the preacher character wax a little too preachy. But then, that's what preachers do. And other than that, if that is even a fair quibble, the actors and the people behind the camera give a master class in storytelling.

The opening scene shows the protagonists as children, offering a meaningful glimpse into the characters' past. Other background information, like Rocky's rise to the top ranks of the criminal underworld, his multiple incarcerations, and the fact that a couple of other conmen owe him big money, is conveyed in shorthand because it doesn't require full narrative treatment.

This leaves more screen time for the playing out of the main drama: Rocky's clever re-rise as a hardened hood with a heart of gold, his expert touch with both friends and enemies, and, most significantly and memorably, the style of his fall.

The sight and sound of Cagney and Bogart on screen together is not a thing to miss.