Movie Reviews for Dead End

Dead End

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Movie Reviews of Dead End

Movie Review: Great character-acting.
Summary: 4 Stars

A small gang of tough street-kids in New-York-City in the 1930's. The Character-acting of these kids was so interesting; the studios put them in 75 more films (5-more-"Dead-end Kids", 22-"East-side kids", and 48-"Bowery Boys").

An all-star cast, well-cast; hold your attention, and take you there. Several sub-plots. Humphrey Bogart is a wanted, big-time, gangster come back to the neighborhood to look-up his childhood sweetheart. Joel McCrea is an honest, but poor man, who wants to marry this poor girl, who wants to marry the rich guy. Sylvia Sidney is the pretty, big-sister trying to save her little brother from a life of crime.

This film would be 5-stars for the story and acting, but only has a happy-ending for some, not all.

"Angels With Dirty Faces" is the next film in the series with the gang. James Cagney stars as a gangster being a bad influence on the boys. Pat O'Brien plays a priest trying to get the gang on the right path. He reminds me of Spencer Tracy in "Boys Town". MGM should put all the "Dead-End-Kids" films in a 6-pack-set for less than $20; and upon normal DVD-discs.

The popular, "Bowery Boys" series, with many of the same kids, exchanged the realism of this film for comedy. The gang's leader, Billy Halop, went on to co-star in the great film, "Tom Brown's School Days, 1940-version".

Movie Review: "We all make mistakes, boss. That's why they put the rubber on the ends of pencils."
Summary: 4 Stars

Dead End is a remarkable film because it is the first film starring the Dead End Kids who later became the East Side Kids and finally The Bowery Boys. Leading the gang is Billy Hallop, although later gang leader Leo Gorcey also appears. The boys are just used as culture for the background of a New York City slum where the famous Babyface Martin (Humphrey Bogart) grew up. He returns to see his old girl who he can't seem to forget, and to possibly see his mother. He finds both, but finds them as unfriendly and hostile as the city that raised him. Also starring are Sylvia Sydney and Joel McCrea as decent products of the slums.

This film is both social commentary and entertainment. It does a great job of balancing its artistic aspects and its cinematic potential. Nothing is harped on; it is simply presented. The actors do a fine job of illustrating their parts without becoming overbearing.

Surprisingly, the film was difficult to make. The Dead End Kids came fresh from New York's slums onto the Broadway stage to play their roles. From their success there, they came to Hollywood and took nothing seriously. The boys notoriously played pranks on an irritated Bogart. Their disregard for authority was famous, but their charisma onscreen helped each of the boys become favorites of movie audiences.

Movie Review: Dead End: Surprisingly Good Film
Summary: 4 Stars

I was surprised at how good the film Dead End was. I'm not sure why, since I'd read nothing but good reviews. I bought it because I am a huge Bogart fan and it was one of the few remaining dvd's availiable at this stage of Bogie's career that I hadn't already got. Because it's pre The Maltese Falcon I wasn't expecting a lot. But its great. The Dead End kids get a bit too much screen time, but Bogart gets a lot more than some other gangster films, and some of his sceens are really key ones, and he has some real depth. This is a must own for all Bogart fans.

Movie Review: early bogie
Summary: 4 Stars

warner brother's had a stable-full of actors that graduated from the school of hard knocks w/. edward g. robinson,james cagney and humphrey bogart.While sharing the billing w/. Sylvia Sidney and Joel MacCrea,Bogart smolders w/. menace as his 'coming home party' fails to live up to his expectations.Cozying up to street urchins the Dead End Kids,Bogie hatches a plot to make his visit worthwhile. At the end is the inevitable showdown between the forces of hope (Joel MacCrea),good (the cops)and evil(Bogie).