Having returned from fighting in World War I, James Allen doesn't want to settle into a humdrum life and decides to set off to find his fortune. He travels the length and breadth of America, working as a skilled tradesman in the construction industry. When times get tough however, he finds himself living in a shelter where an acquaintance suggests they go out for a hamburger. What the friend really has in mind is to rob the diner and Allen soon finds himself working on a chain gang with a long jail sentence. Allen manages to escape however and heads to Chicago where over several years he slowly but surely works his way up the ladder to become one of the most respected construction engineers in the city. His past catches up with him and despite protestations from civic leaders and his many friends in Chicago, he finds himself again on the chain gang. Escaping for a second time, he accepts that to survive, he must lead a life of crime.
| Release Date: | Nov 1932 |
|---|---|
| Genre: | Film-Noir / Drama / Crime |
| Awards: | Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins |
| Cast: | Paul Muni (James Allen), Glenda Farrell (Marie Woods), Helen Vinson (Helen), Noel Francis (Linda), Preston Foster (Pete), Allen Jenkins (Convict Barney Sykes), Berton Churchill (The Judge), Edward Ellis (Convict Bomber Wells), David Landau (The Warden), Hale Hamilton (Reverend Robert Allen), Sally Blane (Alice), Louise Carter (Mother Allen), Willard Robertson (Prison Board Chairman), Robert McWade (Attorney F.E. Ramsey), Robert Warwick (Fuller), William Le Maire (The Texan (as William LeMaire)), Edward Arnold (Lawyer (scenes deleted)), Harry Holman (Sheriff of Monroe (scenes deleted)), William Janney (Sheriff's Son (scenes deleted)), Roscoe Karns (Steve (scenes deleted)), Walter Long (Blacksmith (scenes deleted)), Dewey Robinson (Blacksmith (scenes deleted)), Russell Simpson (Sheriff (scenes deleted)), Erville Alderson (Police Chief (uncredited)), Irving Bacon (Barber Bill (uncredited)), Reginald Barlow (Parker (uncredited)), James Bell (Convict Red (uncredited)), Everett Brown (Convict Sebastian T. Yale (uncredited)), Frederick Burton (Southern Prison Official (uncredited)), Eddy Chandler (Job Foreman (uncredited)), Wallis Clark (Chicago Lawyer (uncredited)), G. Pat Collins (Convict Wilson (uncredited)), George Cooper (Vaudevillian (uncredited)), Jack Curtis (Prison Guard (uncredited)), Douglass Dumbrille (District Attorney (uncredited)), J. Frank Glendon (Arresting Officer (uncredited)), Lew Kelly (Diner Cook (uncredited)), Jack La Rue (Convict Ackerman (uncredited)), Edward LeSaint (Chairman of Chamber of Commerce...), John Marston (Prison Commissioner (uncredited)), Edward McNamara (Second Warden (uncredited)), Charles Middleton (Train Conductor (uncredited)), Dennis O'Keefe (Dancer at Cafe Chateau (uncredited)), William Pawley (Convict Doggy (uncredited)), Charles Sellon (Hot Dog Stand Owner (uncredited)), Lee Shumway (Arresting Officer (uncredited)), William H. Strauss (Pawnbroker (uncredited)), Sheila Terry (Allen's Secretary (uncredited)), Fred 'Snowflake' Toones (Marine On Ship (uncredited)), Harry Woods (Prison Guard (uncredited)), John Wray (Convict Nordine (uncredited)) |