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Dead End (1937)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:8
Fresh:8
Rotten:0
Average Rating:7.7/10
Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: New York City; the depression. The terraces of the great new apartments of the rich look down into the windows of the tenement poor. A gang of teenagers amuse themselves diving in the river and... New York City; the depression. The terraces of the great new apartments of the rich look down into the windows of the tenement poor. A gang of teenagers amuse themselves diving in the river and taunting the son of a rich family. Dave (Joel McCrea) helps Drina (Sylvia Sidney) as she looks after her bother, Tommy (Billy Halop), who is one of the gang. Gangster Baby Face Martin (Humphry Bogart) returns to his old home--but is rejected by his mother (Marjorie Main). Then Martin hatches a plan to make his visit worthwhile. Like the play it is based on, DEAD END is dominated by its tenement set. Director William Wyler and director of photography Gregg Toland emphasize the contrast between the rich family and the poor tenement dwellers. Although scriptwriter Lillian Hellman had to soften Sidney Kingsley's play, the movie's criticism of the social order is still trenchant. DEAD END is notable for its period detail--Dave rests his arms on a pillow while entertaining himself looking out his window; a policeman beats his baton on the sidewalk to call for help. And it contains a vivid vignette from Claire Trevor as Francey, the girl Martin left behind. [More]
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Sylvia Sidney, Joel McCrea, Wendy Barrie
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Sylvia Sidney, Joel McCrea, Wendy Barrie, Claire Trevor, Allen Jenkins, Dead End Kids, Marjorie Main, James Burke, Ward Bond
Director: William Wyler
Director: William Wyler
Screenwriter: Lillian Hellman
Producer: Samuel Goldwyn
Composer: Alfred Newman
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Reviews for Dead End
Though not as good as other William Wyler versions of acclaimed stage plays, this juvenile delinquency drama featuring the Dead End Kids boasts excellent performances from Bogart as a criminal in his pre-stardom era and Joel McCrea as the decent guy.
It's still a compelling film, and it features a novelty: Humphrey Bogart's name isn't at the top of the credits.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| 19% 19% | Transformers: Revenge … |
| 55% 55% | Orphan |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 88% 88% | Ballast |
| 67% 67% | The Merry Gentleman |
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