United Artists | Release Date: April 9, 1932
7.5
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
9
Mixed:
0
Negative:
2
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)
3
KenROct 6, 2021
After waiting till this year to see this highly regarded vintage gangster flick, have to admit coming away somewhat disappointed. The whole thing looks good thanks to top cinematography by veteran Lee Garmes (Detective Story 51) and some niceAfter waiting till this year to see this highly regarded vintage gangster flick, have to admit coming away somewhat disappointed. The whole thing looks good thanks to top cinematography by veteran Lee Garmes (Detective Story 51) and some nice touches from director Hawks, it also features some superbly staged crashes and gun battles but these seem to become overdone, and more in line with exploitation. These films were the action fare of their day but with so many being churned out, the line became blurred between glorifying these moronic henchmen and showing them up for their immorality. Another cliché of the era, assisting to bring it undone, was the inclusion of a comic relief sidekick to the main villain. These characters were stereotypes of unbelievable Simple-Simon stupidity but deemed necessary by Hollywood (and it seems Hughes & Hawks) as ‘humorous’ relief. Technically, good to look at as cinema history but showing the constraints of early sound performances and their various limitations. This is certainly a different Paul Muni to most I have seen but for professionalism, would prefer to take another look at ‘I’m A Fugitive from a Chain Gang’, than this effort. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews