"Angels with Dirty Faces" (1938) is a classic Warner Brothers "morality" film from the 1930s that has a heavy-handed message that's banged over the heads of all viewers. That is, CRIME DOESN'T PAY. Case in point: James Cagney's character Rocky Sullivan. He goes astray at a young age and ends up a well-known gangster who returns to his old neighborhood to further his racketeering career. Standing in his way is his childhood friend, Father Jerry Connelly (Pat O'Brien at his sympathetic best). But when we examine their relationship closely, we realize that Rocky earlier had helped Jerry escape the police and then took the fall for him. In other words, Rocky is directly responsible for sending Jerry on the "straight and narrow' path, and inadvertently sending himself down a much darker road. Meanwhile, Rocky has to deal with lowlifes like his crooked lawyer and accomplice, Frazier (Humphrey Bogart in extreme sleaze-mode). Rounding out the cast of characters are the Dead End Kids including Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hall and Leo Gorcey, as well as "Oomph Girl" Anne Sheridan thrown in as a love interest for Rocky. There's also plenty of unintentional humor tossed into this finely crafted film. You'll never look at a basketball game the same way after you watch the Dead End Kids take the court. In the end, Rocky once again saves Father Jerry from being rubbed out, this time by Frazier and his gang. So what does Rocky get for his good deed? He get an undeserved death sentence for knocking off Frazier and a few of his gang members. The dim-witted Connolly never figures out that it's been Rocky who's been saving his ass all these years. On the night of his execution, Father Jerry proposes to Rocky that he act like a coward when they drag him to the electric chair so the Dead End Kids won't idolize him. "It's about courage that only you, me and God will ever know," he explains in hallowed terms to Rocky. So after all he's done for this sap, now Rocky hears that he has to act like a sniveling coward in his final moments to satisfy the good Father. Of course, Rocky initially refuses him, but on the way to the execution chamber, Rocky starts crying like a baby. Father Connelly looks up to heaven as if to praise the Lord for this startling and unexpected turn of events. So the question to viewers over the years has always been this: was Rocky really a coward, or did he fake it to ensure that the Dead End Kids didn't idolize him anymore? The last scene in the film shows the Kids reading the screaming headline "Sullivan Dies a Coward!" and in total shock to learn that Rocky went out crying like a baby. They walk away stunned with Father Connolly and follow him to church like good little "Angels." The true answer: Rocky was no coward because Jimmy Cagney doesn't play cowards. End of story.

Rocky came back to the old side East And treated the kids to a feast But he wound up bury Due to Father Jerry The moral is-Don't trust a priest!Seriously-I found Father Jerry obnoxious and nauseating. with today's technology, could one make a version in which Rocky shot him instead?The "rackets", after all, often amounted to victimless crimes like gambling and prostitution-and, in the Twenties, bootlegging! Possible sequel-the kids find out about Jerry's last words to rocky and turn against him-with a vengeance!

The gangster movie is one of my favorite genres from Hollywood's Golden Age and no one could do them like Warner Bros. They made many classics but none quite as good as Angels with Dirty Faces, in my opinion. Directed by Michael Curtiz, it stars James Cagney and Pat O'Brien as childhood friends whose lives take different paths -- O'Brien becomes a priest and Cagney becomes a criminal. When Cagney returns to the old neighborhood and proves to be a bad influence on the street kids who idolize him, O'Brien fights to save the kids and, if possible, his friend.A wonderful movie in every way, with humor and action and lots of heart. Cagney does a fantastic job deserving of his Oscar nomination. His final scene is among the best of his career. O'Brien has a less flashy part but he's really the anchor to the film and delivers a great turn himself. His real life friendship with Cagney no doubt helped in selling the affection these two men have for one another. Ann Sheridan is good in a somewhat unnecessary part. She makes the most of her screen time and has nice chemistry with Cagney, but her character adds little to the story. Humphrey Bogart, at this point still playing villains, is very good as a weasel you can't wait to see rubbed out. The Dead End Kids play the gang of "yutes" that's at the heart of it all. As always, they're an acquired taste but I tend to enjoy them a lot. They're especially good here with Cagney, who's like a big Dead End Kid himself. The basketball scene is a hoot. Special mention to Frankie Burke, who plays Cagney's character as a teen in the beginning of the movie. Ideal casting, both in looks and performance, Burke is terrific.It's one of my all-time favorite films. I love WB gangster movies and they don't get any better than this one. Often imitated and mocked over the years, it might not hold the same punch for modern audiences that it once did. I was lucky to see it when I was young before I was too cynical to enjoy it. I credit it with being one of the films that turned me into a classic Hollywood fan for life.

When I was that age, growing up in Brooklyn, it must have been tough on the people around me. Why? Because we were always looking for something to do, anything to do and trouble is the easy thing to get going anywhere. That's what these guys portray so well and Cagney sets the pace. Here we see a group of kids with no guidance and poor leadership that if someone doesn't intervene, they are all going to turn out like Rocky in the movie. Who better then a priest to try to get them to stop and consider what they are doing and why? The perfect balance takes hold. Good and evil go at it with evil looking, sounding and feeling better but ending on a bad note. Or, you can do good which will lead you toward the life intended. If anyone can keep themselves from bawling at the end, I'll ask you why? Give in and let the lesson of the movie have its way with you. A good lesson it is too because someone dies to make the point. Sound familiar? Hats off to every involved with this picture. Enjoy the scenes of life way back when, the way they talked and what was popular for music, cars and dress. Definitely a move to eat while watching, tasty drink and snack too. Oh, and have something to wipe that dirty face of yours, the one that cries in the end.