![Angels With Dirty Faces [VHS]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41TJ91HFBHL.jpg)
Product Description Brooklyn gangster Rocky (James Cagney) and his childhood friend Jerry, now a priest (Pat O'Brien), compete for the respect of a bunch of neighbourhood delinquents. Meanwhile, Rocky tries to call in a debt from his crooked ex-partner (Humphrey Bogart). The adolescents are played by the Dead End Kids, first introduced to the screen a year earlier in 'Dead End', and destined to appear in several films thereafter. .co.uk Review 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 idolise him, and childhood pal Father Jerry Connolly (Pat O'Brien), who has taken a different turn from Rocky and is struggling to bring the Kids around. While still friends with Rocky, the good Father tries to persuade him to steer clear of the gang of urchins. Rocky runs foul 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 l938 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 1930s. --Jerry Renshaw, .com
N**O
One of the Great Classic Gangster Movies
There were a number of classic gangster films that were a staple of my childhod Saturday or Sunday afternoons. They Often involved Humphrey Bogart, Edward G Robinson or, most dangerous of all James Cagney. This is Cagney at his best, Bogart not central character here, however his presence adds a bit of gravitas to the cast.Some reviewers of this film have commented that Pat O'Brien's Father Connelly lacks dynamism and is just a bit too "good", especially next to Cagney's Rocky Sullivan. This is a huge mistake based on the dreadful current trend of trying to make all good characters a bit flawed and bad because this is how Hollywood see that we all are. It is central to the way that the story unfolds that the distinction beween the unconpramisingly good Connelly is maintained. The key to O'Briens performance is that he isgood and well meaning but lacks the charisma of Rocky Sullivan. He is fighting an uphill struggle to steer the local (Dead End) kids onto the right path, away from gangs and crime. He still believes in redemption for his childhood friend aided by the infeasibly naive Laura Ferguson (Ann Sheridan)Modern Hollywood could not make such a film. Look at another classic film Cape Fear. The 1962 original finds the all good Sam Bowen (Gregory Peck) being forced into breaking the law to protect his innocent daughter. He is balanced against the evil Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) who is out for revenge because Peck put him in jail. In the 1991 remake Nick Nolte's Bowen had lied in his evidence that put Cady in jail and so De Niro's Cady seems to have a genuine grudge although he was equally guilty of the crime. Furthemore the daughter changes name from the homely Nancy to Danielle and becomes sexually aware. This all serves to blur the bowndries and ultimately saps alll the energy from the film. Where the original had a tension that built to an almost unbearable climax the remake trundled on and I could not care so deeply about any of the characters.So please don't see the inbalance of energy in the characters as a flaw in this film it is key to the film. The quiet determination and reasoning of Father Connelly manages, in the end, to persuade Sullivan to do the right thing.
D**D
Classic Movie
Item arrived on time and in excellent condition. This film is a classic with James Cagney giving a first class performance, and highly recommended.
G**S
Oldies are the best
Brilliant film
G**E
Angeles with dirty faces
Old time classic I love replacing from vhs to DVD
W**D
Quality
Great film, with one of the greats
C**E
This dvd was bought has a present sat down to watch it and it has Chinese subtitles😢
This dvd was bought has a present sat down to watch it and it has Chinese subtitles😢
S**.
Worth every penny great film.
Best of james cagney films loved this since I was a child, great value for money would certainly buy from here again.
L**A
Great
Bought as gift great service speedy delivery very happy thanks !!
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