A political appointee with a checkered past tries to institute constructive changes as the deputy commissioner at a cruel reform school but gets pushback from a sadistic warden and a suspicious judge who doesn't trust his motives..

Is it worth watching? If you have a thing for pre-code grittiness or just want to see James Cagney do his thing without the usual gangster fireworks, then absolutely. It's a quick watch. If you hate movies where the moral compass shifts on a dime or the ending feels like it was tacked on in a panic, you might want to s...


Comparing the cinematic DNA and archive impact of two defining moments in cult history.

Archie Mayo

William Parke
Community
Log in to comment.
"Is it worth watching? If you have a thing for pre-code grittiness or just want to see James Cagney do his thing without the usual gangster fireworks, then absolutely. It's a quick watch. If you hate movies where the moral compass shifts on a dime or the ending feels like it was tacked on in a panic, you might want to skip it. There's this moment near the start where you realize the school is essentially a torture chamber. It’s not subtle. The warden, played with this delightful, slimy arrogance..."
Edward Chodorov, Islin Auster
United States
Drama, Romance, Crime

still_frame

still_frame

still_frame

still_frame

still_frame

still_frame

still_frame

still_frame

