Gangster Movies: (ca. 1931) Nan, a racketeer’s daughter, is in love with “The Kid”, a shooting gallery showman. Despite Nan’s prodding, The Kid has no ambitions about joining the rackets and making enough money to support Nan in the lifestyle she’s accustomed to. Her attitude changes after her father implicates her in a murder and she’s sent to prison. During her incarceration, her father convinces The Kid to join the gang in order to help free Nan. When Nan is released, she wants nothing more to do with the mob and tries to get The Kid to quit, but she may be too late.

Gary Coopers performance is particularly mesmerizing. The plot is quite elaborate and clear, and the scenarios and decor are exceptional in every detail.

This was purportedly Al Capone’s favorite Gangster Movie!

This film contains the first sound flashback: Dialogue heard earlier in the film was repeated over a huge close-up of Sylvia Sidney’s tear-stained face as she recalls the past.

This was ‘Dashiel Hammett”s only original screenplay (adapted by Max Marcin, with the eventual script by Oliver H.P. Garrett).