Review of Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) by Matt P — 24 Jul 2011

Before "Boyz N The Hood," "Mean Streets," or even "A Bronx Tale," there was Michael Curtiz's gangster classic, "Angels With Dirty Faces." Just from the title, you can guess this isn't your typical Cagney film. Sure, it has similar elements that remind you only of "The Public Enemy," or "The Roaring Twenties," but the story is uniquely different and one that's never been done before...but has been re-envisioned by each new wave of talented directors.

As a young hoodlum picking fights on the streets during the 1900s, Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) and his pal Jerry (Pat O'Brien) eventually grow apart when Rocky is sent to prison for a long time--leaving Jerry to cope with his poverty. In prison, Rocky learns the "hard way" and turns out years later after making a deal with a scummy lawyer (Humphrey Bogart) in an attempt to get in affiliating after doing 3 years for him. When Rocky turns out, he sees what has become of his old neighborhood and old pals. This includes noticing the lack of law in the area (such as corrupt Politician's like Bogart ruling the area), his old love grown to be a hotel keeper, and his Priest-turned hoodlum pal, Jerry. In addition, Rocky stumbles upon a gang of thieving young kids, reminiscent of himself in his early days. After being "stiffed" by the kids Rocky takes them under his wing, battling against his old pal Jerry for their future and security.

"Angels With Dirty Faces" is a fascinating portrait of the affects the mob had in the early days of America. Back when there were little jobs to get, one could easily turn to the life of crime. What better actor to show it exploited than Cagney himself? Rather than be a typical rise and fall story of a mobster, "Angels With Dirty Faces" shows us how the mob has greatly affected the minds of young adults, and shaped their life to being none other than murderous. Rocky seems unbeknown to the harm he's causing the children. He feeds them, gives them money, and acts as a role-model hero to them. Jerry, the Priest, sees this and knows he can be the only one to stop Rocky from tainting their minds any further. After fighting past the corrupt law (including bunking off the corrupt lawyer) Jerry comes face to face with his old pat, and urges him to reconcile and renounce his heinous crimes.

The performances are all sharp and memorable. Pat O'Brien stood out the most to me, and though Cagney may have been doing a routine role, it makes it more powerful to see a gangster icon like himself showing a breaking point. "Angels With Dirty Faces" has it's tragedies, and would later serve as the core of numerous juvenile-criminal films to come. Martin Scorsese's "Mean Streets" (showing the tragic future of Little Italy's first born sons) being a more notable one, along with John Singleton's "Boyz N The Hood," (a realistic look at black on black crime in South Central, L.A.). Seen first in this picture and later heightened in the ones mentioned, the Gangster lifestyle is tragic and wrong. It has it's riches, and it's ultimate downfalls. You never know when a kid from the Bronx, or the "Hood" may be truly righteous, or if he's just another "Angel" with a dirty face and future.