Dead End
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Movie Reviews of Dead End
Movie Review: And how!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Dead End" is the first movie I have seen where Humphrey Bogart plays in one of the leading roles the "hoodlum" that he often portrayed as a minor character. He has the mannerisms down, the sneer and the steely murderous glare. He has that dangerous presence on display in this 1937 movie that he would use to good effect throughout his career. I believe this movie also introduced the "Dead End Kids". The movie was scripted by Lillian Hellman, from a play by Sidney Kingsley (he won the Pulitzer for it), and this quality source material shows through.
Anyway, the story is set in a tenement slum area in New York City where people are trying to scrape by. Towering over them is a newly built palace to the rich in the form of a fabulous apartment house that has a back entrance that opens into the slum streets. This juxtaposition sets the stage for an inappropriate romance between a rich girl and an idealistic young man who tried to work his way out of the area by getting a college degree, only to be dragged back down by the depression. There is a young lady of his own social class who is raising her younger brother. The young lady is in love with the idealist, but he views her as a sister. The little brother has fallen in with a group of truly nasty little thugs who, in the absence of television or video games, make life difficult for everyone around them. Humphrey Bogart ("Baby-face" Martin) rolls into town in a wistful mood, looking for his mama and the sweet girlfriend of his comparatively innocent youth. Well, these reunions don't go as planned as you can well imagine. Claire Trevor as the ex-girlfriend sets the screen on fire as the woman who didn't wait for him, and Mr Bogart's reaction to this revelation is a cinematic masterpiece. Moralizing occurs, but it is easy to take.
The movie looks great, the dialogue is very good and the acting is excellent. Recommended.
Movie Review: "Gimme back my 3 cents...He took my 3 cents!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Dead End is a masterful example of a classic film from the mid 1930's. It's a must for any classic film lover's library. William Wyler directed it to perfection, and the screen play was written by the great, Lillian Hellman, who's other credits include gems such as, "The Little Foxes". Dead End's cinematography is by, Gregg Toland, who delivered beautifully, as he's the guy who gave us the images in, "Citizen Kane", too! The opening theme music must be mentioned because, Max Steiner, wrote the score. It is a beautiful piece, as it's much like a cityscape, in sound. Max Steiner is the musical genius who studied with Brahms, and wrote endless film scores, too numerous to mention. As for the acting; Bogie, Sylvia Sidney, Joel McCrea, Claire Trevor, Allen Jenkins and Wendy Barrie, all deliver memorable performances. The first film for, The Dead End Kids, hits a grand slam for dialogue and delivery. The, "Kids", nearly steal the show with their often hilarious one liners, as well as their poignant lines that give us a window into their situations as they pertain to poverty in the era of, The Great Depression. Claire Trevor's role is brief, but devastating and memorable. Marjorie Main, as "Baby Face Martin"'s mother, also provides a performance worthy of mention.... as you will see! The great Film Noir actress, Esther Howard, is heard yelling to presumably, her spouse, that she's tired of hearing him cough. The camera shows her leaving as she's hollering how she's, "..... going out to make some money ", so she can, "..... come back and hear you(him)..cough!". Tuberculosis runs rampant in the movie, as one of The Dead end Kid's nickname is, "T.B.". He proudly proclaims to the rich kid, "T.B..... I got T.B.". I have this in my library and have seen it dozens of times because it is absolutely GREAT. Get it, and love it!Movie Review: A forgotten classic well worth rediscovering
Summary: 5 Stars
Dead End is a classic, but one that's pretty much been forgotten these days and is rarely revived on TV, let along the reissue circuit. It's a shame, because alongside the crusading social drama it's also one of the most strikingly designed and magnificently shot films of the Thirties thanks to Greg Toland's remarkable photography and Richard Day's marvellous set. Almost every shot in the film is extraordinarily imaginative - not just beautifully composed, but also absolutely right for the scene. And in William Wyler's hands, it still works pretty well as drama despite the plethora of stereotypes. Joel McRea, the most unjustly forgotten star of the 30s, makes the best of the worst of them as the idealistic but starving would-be architect, and the Dead End Kids when they still were kids and hadn't changed their screen names a half dozen times do display the early signs of all the irritating shtick that would turn them into one of the most painful ensembles of the 40s, but Sylvia Sidney's striking worker, Claire Trevor's hooker (no typecasting there) and Bogart's disillusioned gangster make the most of their opportunities. But Marjorie Main as Bogie's mom? That's a hard sell on the best of days!
Bogart and the Dead End Kids would cross the street to the Warners lot to co-star in Angels With Dirty Faces a couple of years later, but this one beats even that Cagney classic. Sadly no extras, but the DVD transfer is quite superb. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: THE BEST BOGART MOVIE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN
Summary: 5 Stars
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS FINALLY ON DVD!! Growing up in the 60's, I must have seen this flick a million times on TV on my local Saturday Afternoon Matinee. This was my favorite movie as a kid. Needless to say, when I saw this had recently been released on DVD, I snatched it up. I hadn't seen it in years and it's still as good as ever. The story is great and it has wonderful production values. For a film made in 1937, it's remarkable how good this looks. THE TRANSFER IS GREAT!! Now that I'm a full grown Bogart fan, I have to say, this is my third favorite Bogart flick of all time, following CASABLANCA and THE MALTESE FALCON. Even though Bogie shares the lead with a wonderful ensemble cast, his performance as Baby Face Martin is just as compelling as Rick, Sam Spade, or Phillip Marlowe. After having plastic surgery, it's amazing how much Baby Face looks like Humphrey Bogart. Imagine that. I also love the campy New York street dialogue of the Dead End Kids. My favorite line of dialogue: "The mark o' the squeala." Great stuff!! Along with ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES this was their best work, as their other short films were a bit over the top.
If you're a Bogie fan who has never seen this lesser known film, buy it today. Hey, it was nominated for 4 Oscars. The price is right and I GUARANTEE IT WILL BECOME ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE BOGART FLICKS TOO.
ENJOY.
Movie Review: My Dad Loved The Dead End Kids..
Summary: 5 Stars
I hadn't seen this movie for many years and caught the tail end of it on Turner. I had to try to get it, and I'm so glad I was able to. Sylvia Sidney is gorgeous in this movie and Joel McCrea was so young. The people that live in the corner of this world in New York in the early 30's are extremely poor. The younger generation (dead end kids) are hard and almost merciless in their attempt to have some fun at a new kid's expense. The new kid just wants to belong and they take advantage of it.
While the rich have to endure using the back way into their luxorious apartments until the front entrance is under construction; the haves are exposed to the ultimate have-nots. Joel is tempted by a high class lady living in the apartments, while Sylvia tries to protect her young brother and keep him out of reform school. She's also in love with Joel, but he thinks of her as the little kid he grew up with. Humphrey Bogart is wonderful as the criminal that tries to go home. Even his mother, a serious Marjorie Main is afraid of him.
Moral values are taught in this classic and the direction by William Wyler is uncanny. You believe you're watching real people leading retched lives in this district known as Hell's kitchen in New York City.
It even has a fairly good ending. I loved it!
Nancy