Angels with Dirty Faces is not only one of James Cagney's most famous movies, but it's also one of the quintessential gangster flicks of the silver screen. It features the Dead End gang, a group of tough, street kids who showed audiences that not everyone grew up in a loving family like Andy Hardy. By today's standards, the kids are rather irritating, but back in 1938, they served an important purpose.
But before they show up on the screen, we see two other kids: young James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. They're best friends as youths, but take very different paths as adults. Jimmy becomes a thug; Pat a priest. As grown-ups, Jimmy is a role model to the Dead End kids, which drives Pat crazy. He wants to help the kids learn good morals, and competing against true gangsters like Humphrey Bogart is hard enough. Fighting with his best friend is even tougher. Ann Sheridan, of course, is a good girl who sees the potential in Jimmy and hopes he can stay out of trouble long enough to settle down.
I won't spoil anything, but the ending of this movie is extremely memorable and tough to watch. It'll make instant James Cagney fans out of new folks in the audience, and it'll probably make even the tough guys reach for the Kleenex box. If you like this one, check out another James Cagney classic, City for Conquest. It also starts with boyhood friends who take different life paths and also costars Ann Sheridan.
But before they show up on the screen, we see two other kids: young James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. They're best friends as youths, but take very different paths as adults. Jimmy becomes a thug; Pat a priest. As grown-ups, Jimmy is a role model to the Dead End kids, which drives Pat crazy. He wants to help the kids learn good morals, and competing against true gangsters like Humphrey Bogart is hard enough. Fighting with his best friend is even tougher. Ann Sheridan, of course, is a good girl who sees the potential in Jimmy and hopes he can stay out of trouble long enough to settle down.
I won't spoil anything, but the ending of this movie is extremely memorable and tough to watch. It'll make instant James Cagney fans out of new folks in the audience, and it'll probably make even the tough guys reach for the Kleenex box. If you like this one, check out another James Cagney classic, City for Conquest. It also starts with boyhood friends who take different life paths and also costars Ann Sheridan.