It came as something of a surprise to discover that this atmospheric noir movie was actually made in 1939. The film's Great Depression background is so convincingly realistic not only in the attitudes of the characters but in the very fiber of the movie itself, particularly in the scungy sets created by William Saulter (an art director I'd never heard of before) and the superbly atmospheric photography by that master of masters, Hal Mohr. As the central character, both Jimmy Lydon and Wallace Ford give outstanding performances, while Van Heflin plays a memorable early role as Ford's defense counsel, and director/producer William K. Howard makes his only on-screen appearance as the prosecutor. (Howard was also the author of the original story). For possibly the only time in his 125 credited screen and TV appearances, Stu Erwin plays a thoroughly despicable character. In a scene that occurs off-camera, Erwin (or his accomplice) shoots and kills the owner of a low class eatery during a bungled hold-up and then lets Ford (who wasn't even there during the shooting) share the blame! Maybe producer Howard ran out of money, because we don't actually see any of this action on-screen at all, nor do we hear Erwin's actual court testimony, all of which is a bit of a drawback! Instead, the film hastens into a sentimental school-house scene with Aline MacMahon, who is told that the old school will be demolished. Good riddance, I'd say, but the movie takes the opposite view! Available on an excellent Alpha DVD.

Played by Jimmy Lydon as a kid and Wallace Ford as an adult, Frankie Rogers the protagonist of Back Door To Heaven has a short and unhappy life and is someone who could never catch a break. I've known people like that one in particular from my past who didn't even have parents for his cognitive existence. He like Rogers could never get a break in life.I wish I could have given Back Door To Heaven a better rating, the cast is a good one and the performances most sincere. But sadly this film is way too awash in sentimentality and pathos. From an abusive parental household to assorting with sleazy types young Jimmy Lydon who only wanted to fit in gets sent to reform school and becomes a harden criminal. Nearly all the other kids in Aline McMahon's grade school class seem to have made something of themselves except him as he grows into Wallace Ford a hardened criminal. Eventually he moves inexorably to his appointed fate at the death house which he's determined to cheat.Note the presence of a young Van Heflin before his success on Broadway in The Philadelphia Story and his Oscar for Johnny Eager. As a grownup he's a lawyer who tries to obtain mercy for Ford for a capital crime. McMahon does well as the beloved schoolteacher.It's a sad film Back Door To Heaven, but it could have used a lot more work to make it OK.

This is a very, very sentimental B-movie--one that tries hard to tug at the heart. It begins many years earlier. There is a beloved school teacher (Aline MacMahon) and her class. One of the boys is a nice kid, but also has had numerous run-ins with the law--and as a result, he's sent to reform school. Years pass and the boy gets in trouble again and again. Now an adult with an extensive criminal history (Wallace Ford), he's been released from prison. While a criminal at heart, he still has a soft spot for this teacher and it's hard to see whether he'll go straight or return to a life of evil.The film features a few other well-known actors in addition to those I already mentioned. Stu Erwin, oddly, is cast as a criminal associate of Ford--and it's odd, as neither seems cast well in the film since they both tended to play nice, easy-going sorts of guy in their other films. Additionally, Van Heflin plays a defense attorney in one of his earliest roles--and boy does he look young! Overall, the film is enjoyable but very high on schmaltz--a little too much if you ask me. It tries very, very hard by laying on a lot of sentiment and this will probably rub some wrong. But, despite this, the actors seem to try their best and the film is a decent time-passer. Not bad, but certainly not great. Dbburroughs certainly seemed to hate it and I can see why, though perhaps I am a tad more charitably disposed to this sort of overt sentimentality.

A film that was created as a second-feature became a small jewel by means of an honest script and sincere performances by little-known actors. (Van Heflin appears in a very early performance.)James Lydon appears as Frankie, a small boy living a desperate existence in a slum area, who steals a harmonica in order to fit in with his classmates. Lydon's performance is heartbreaking, and you know that his character is lost forever under the weight of despair. Then we see Frankie grown, in prison. (Wallace Ford) A parole sets the story in motion, and we see how tragic circumstances can indeed forever destroy a life. Aline MacMahon as Frankie's teacher gives her usual sterling performance. Don't miss this one.