[supernothingmanX]

From its stirring opening shots to its potent finale, Michael Curtiz's Angels with Dirty Faces is a skilled artistic accomplishment with a superlative performance by Cagney. The three previous Curtiz films I had seen, Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood and Yankee Doodle Dandy all got my four star rating, and Angels With Dirty Faces comes very close to joining the club. Angels with Dirty Faces was in my mind, similar to Goodfellas because it showed the appeal of the gangster lifestyle in a stylistic way, and yet also often de-glamourized it. Angels with Dirty Faces is tough even though it isn't graphic, and is delivered with a distant, yet sympathetic manner. It's a lot of fun to see Cagney and Bogart exchange lines in their segments together; both are in complete control of their roles, and lovingly spout their stylistic dialogue. Curtiz handles his material with class, as is consistent with the above mentioned Curtiz films. There is a certain degree of self-conscious (Hollywood?) morality that weighs on the film, but that's really minor quibble. There are some truly great films like On the Waterfront that have the same quality. In any event, I liked Angels with Dirty Faces quite a bit, what did you folks think of it?

Rating: ***1/2 out of 4

[razadoro]

I'm a huge fan of Cagney and Bogart so it's no surprise that I really liked this movie. Great supporting performances by Pat O'Brien (Father Jerry) and the Dead End Kids. Part of a trilogy of Cagney's gangster films of the era along with Public Enemy and The Roaring Twenties. 8 out of 10.

[delandlegend]

It's a great movie. Cagney is excellent, as always. You didn't mention the brilliant ending. Moreover, "morality" is the whole point of the movie. Cagney makes certain choices throughout the film, as does O'Brien, and we see their different consequences all the way to Cagney's ultimate choice at the end. I don't know how you can quibble with the morality aspect without dismissing the entire thing. Still, you're right to give it such a high rating.

[supernothingmanX]

Originally posted by razadoro
I'm a huge fan of Cagney and Bogart so it's no surprise that I really liked this movie. Great supporting performances by Pat O'Brien (Father Jerry) and the Dead End Kids. Part of a trilogy of Cagney's gangster films of the era along with Public Enemy and The Roaring Twenties. 8 out of 10.

I liked Angels With Dirty Faces much more than The Public Enemy, even though both are well thought of. I haven't seen The Roaring Twenties yet.

[supernothingmanX]

Originally posted by delandlegend
It's a great movie. Cagney is excellent, as always. You didn't mention the brilliant ending. Moreover, "morality" is the whole point of the movie. Cagney makes certain choices throughout the film, as does O'Brien, and we see their different consequences all the way to Cagney's ultimate choice at the end. I don't know how you can quibble with the morality aspect without dismissing the entire thing. Still, you're right to give it such a high rating.

It's true I didn't go into detail about the ending, which I also loved, but I did mention it in the first sentence.

I think you may have misintrepeted what I said. There is a basic moral core to the film, the push and pull of the priest and the gangster and their effects on the boys. And I never had any problem with that. My only minor, off-hand negative little remark was with the way that some Hollywood films deal with morality in a somewhat self-conscious way. I wondered if the message in this movie was sometimes like that. But I didn't mean that the film was heavy handed, nor did I have any major criticism on that regard. It was just a minor off hand remark.


Anyway, my thanks to both of you for contributing your opinions.

[microcosmic]

Excellent film, but if I remember correctly O'Brien's performance wasn't smash hot. I liked it (***1/2) more than The Roaring Twenties (***1/2) and The Public Enemy (***).

[razadoro]

Originally posted by supernothingmanX
I liked Angels With Dirty Faces much more than The Public Enemy, even though both are well thought of. I haven't seen The Roaring Twenties yet.

Angels was the more accomplished film, definitely.

[mr bernstein]

You have got to see The Roaring Twenties.Cagney is superb and puts Bogey in the shade.Great line where Cagney says"so you like a laugh do you?"Angels... is also one of the best gangster pics though.Curtiz's use of light and shadows is very good,and the prison guards look very menacing on the final walk.

[Dirt]

Originally posted by razadoro
Great supporting performances by Pat O'Brien (Father Jerry) and the Dead End Kids.

I love this movie and it's a great opportunity to watch the Dead End Kids in a good dramatic film, even though they do (already) provide the slightest of comic relief. It's a bit hard to watch them be so serious since I grew up where (and when) a weekend was not complete without a Bowery Boys flick on the tube. Gorcey and Hall were as fine as comedians could be when I was a kid

[filmsRpriceless]

The best film with the Dead End Kids is definitely William Wyler's "Dead End," their very first feature film, if I am not mistaken.