City for Conquest 1940

City for Conquest

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City for Conquest Photos

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Movie Info

Truck driver Danny Kenny (James Cagney) gets into boxing to help his talented younger brother, Eddie (Arthur Kennedy), pay for music school. But when Danny's relationship with his girlfriend, Peggy Nash (Ann Sheridan), disintegrates, boxing becomes his life. After Danny's blows knock down opponent after opponent, he gets a shot at competing for the welterweight championship. But when a corrupt fight ends with Danny's vision getting damaged, his entire future is put into question.

Genre:

drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Anatole Litvak
Release Date (Streaming):

Nov 30, 2016
Runtime:

1h 41m
Production Co:

Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Cast & Crew

James Cagney
Danny Kenny

Ann Sheridan
Peggy Nash

Frank Craven
`'Old Timer'`

Donald Crisp
Scotty MacPherson

Frank McHugh
`'Mutt'`

Arthur Kennedy
Eddie Kenny

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Critic Reviews for City for Conquest

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (1)

Picture carries plenty of dramatic punch.

November 1, 2007 | Full Review…

Variety Staff
Variety
Uunevenly paced, mounts slowly to a sizzling prizefight sequence, which comes somewhere about the middle, then sags off to a long-drawn, agonized finish.

March 25, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Bosley Crowther
New York Times
Litvak's careful poduction overcomes any flaws.

November 1, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

TV Guide
The heartwrenching tearjerker love story surfaces at the end as a winner by a narrow decision.

July 22, 2006 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Cagney's marvellous performance almost saves the mawkish ending.

May 24, 2003 | Full Review…

Film4 Staff
Film4

View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for City for Conquest

Jul 02, 2011

Good film with James Cagney in the lead. A boxer who is a good man just trying to earn a living as a boxer(but retires due to partial blindness), has a close girlfriend who betrays the Cagney character and then goes back to him for forgiveness, Cagney's character--a brother who is musically talented, and the corruption of American boxing. The film drags when Cagney's character's brother plays that long orchestra concert and then makes that long speech dedicating the music to the Cagney character. That deserves to be elsewhere and it drags the picture since it is not needed. It is not needed because, in a way one of the least few characters is now focused and should be focused more on Cagney. The ending is typical Hollywood stuff but that's what audiences at that partucular time would expect, since it's a studio picture produced by Warner Bros...

Brian R Super Reviewer
Sep 05, 2010

I love these old boxer movies, Cagney is perfect for this part too. I loved this movie it's really dramatic and exciting. I highly recommend it.

Aj V Super Reviewer
Feb 04, 2009

Ann Sheridan is on a quest for fame and fortune. Jimmy Cagney is on a quest for Ann Sheridan. A terrific little rags to riches to rags story replete with music and boxing and a dancing Anthony Quinn.

Randy T Super Reviewer
Nov 13, 2007

One for the sentimentalists -- like me : ) Almost an unhappy ending, but they manage to pull it out. One of Cagney's "softer" roles, demonstrating his versatility. Sheridan is okay as the love almost lost, but her energy level struggles to keep up with Cagney's. A wonderful supporting job by many, and especially so for Elia Kazan as Googie Zucco. Perhaps best of all is the remarkable soundtrack that is powerfully reminiscent of Gershwin.

Lanning : Super Reviewer