| Photos (see all 3 | slideshow) |
| James Cagney | ... | Danny Kean | |
| Ralph Bellamy | ... | J.R. 'Al' McLean | |
| Patricia Ellis | ... | Patricia 'Pat' Nolan | |
| Alice White | ... | Allison | |
| Ralf Harolde | ... | Jerry the Mug | |
| Robert Emmett O'Connor | ... | Lieutenant Casey Nolan | |
| Robert Barrat | ... | Grover, Graphic News Owner | |
| G. Pat Collins | ... | Hennessy the Fireman (as George Pat Collins) | |
| Arthur Vinton | ... | John, the Head Keeper | |
| Tom Wilson | ... | Leo | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Maurice Black | ... | Speakeasy Proprietor (uncredited) | |
| Stanley Blystone | ... | Prison Guard (uncredited) | |
| Don Brodie | ... | Hood (uncredited) | |
| Hobart Cavanaugh | ... | James 'Pete' Peters, Drunken Reporter (uncredited) | |
| George Chandler | ... | Reporter (uncredited) | |
| Cora Sue Collins | ... | Jerry's Little Girl (uncredited) | |
| Gino Corrado | ... | Barber (uncredited) | |
| George Daly | ... | Machine Gunner (uncredited) | |
| Jill Dennett | ... | Speakeasy Girl (uncredited) | |
| Mike Donlin | ... | Poolroom Proprietor (uncredited) | |
| Dick Elliott | ... | Editor (uncredited) | |
| Jack Grey | ... | Alec, Police Officer (uncredited) | |
| Sterling Holloway | ... | Journalism Student (uncredited) | |
| John Ince | ... | Police Captain (uncredited) | |
| Selmer Jackson | ... | Joe Chase, Record Editor (uncredited) | |
| Alice Jans | ... | Colleen (uncredited) | |
| Donald Kerr | ... | Mike, Man with Colleen (uncredited) | |
| Milton Kibbee | ... | Reporter Outside Prison (uncredited) | |
| Charles King | ... | Sick Reporter at Execution (uncredited) | |
| Larry McGrath | ... | Bookie (uncredited) | |
| Matt McHugh | ... | Sergeant Handing Out Guns (uncredited) | |
| Bert Moorhouse | ... | Reporter Witnessing Execution (uncredited) | |
| Bob Perry | ... | Bartender (uncredited) | |
| Barbara Rogers | ... | Olive, Jerry's Moll (uncredited) | |
| Cliff Saum | ... | Reporter (uncredited) | |
| Charles Sherlock | ... | Reporter Witnessing Execution (uncredited) | |
| Philip Sleeman | ... | Hood (uncredited) | |
| William H. Strauss | ... | Tailor (uncredited) | |
| Vaughn Taylor | ... | Editor (uncredited) | |
| Phil Tead | ... | Reporter F.L. Strange (uncredited) | |
| Billy West | ... | Reporter Stacy (uncredited) | |
| Renee Whitney | ... | Connie Rowland (uncredited) | |
| William Worthington | ... | Reporter Witnessing Execution (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Lloyd Bacon | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Daniel Ahern | (story) (as Danny Ahern) | |
| Allen Rivkin | (adaptation) & | |
| P.J. Wolfson | (adaptation) | |
| Ben Markson | (dialogue) | |
| William Keighley | uncredited | |
Cinematography by | |||
| Sol Polito | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| William Holmes | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Robert M. Haas | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Orry-Kelly | (gowns) | ||
Makeup Department | |||
| Perc Westmore | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Gordon Hollingshead | .... | assistant director (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| Leo F. Forbstein | .... | conductor: Vitaphone Orchestra | |
| Ray Heindorf | .... | composer: music cues (uncredited) | |
| Cliff Hess | .... | composer: music cues (uncredited) | |
Other crew | |||
| William Keighley | .... | dialogue director | |
| Raymond Griffith | .... | supervisor (uncredited) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| The Black Widow | This Marriage Business | Arson Gang Busters | Escape from Crime | Woman in Distress |
|
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |
Frantic, fast-paced film of ex-con Cagney getting a job at a local scandal sheet working for Bellamy and producing exclusive photographs for the paper. First he poses as an insurance adjuster to steal a photo, then through chicanery he manages to obtain a forbidden photo of a woman in the electric chair. Satisfying story conclusion has Cagney getting the girl and Bellamy playing the chump--again.
This film moves like lightning, guided along by Cagney's seemingly inexhaustible energy. Lots of snappy dialog, great acting, and fine direction make this quite a little gem. Great 1930s feel, and watch quickly for Sterling Holloway (wearing outrageous glasses!) as a journalism student. Highly recommended.