Wild Boys of the Road (1933)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Daniel Ahern (story)
Earl Baldwin (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 October 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure

Tagline:

Girls living like boys! Boys living like savages!

Plot:

At the bottom of the depression, Tom's mother has been out of work for months when Ed's father loses his job...

Plot Keywords:

Railway | Train | New York City | Columbus Ohio | Teenage Boy

Cast

Frankie Darro	...	Edward 'Eddie' Smith
Edwin Phillips	...	Tommy Gordon
Rochelle Hudson	...	Grace
Dorothy Coonan Wellman	...	Sally (as Dorothy Coonan)
Sterling Holloway	...	Ollie
Arthur Hohl	...	Dr. Henry A. Heckel
Ann Hovey	...	Lola
Minna Gombell	...	Aunt Carrie
Grant Mitchell	...	Mr. James Smith
Claire McDowell	...	Mrs. Smith
Robert Barrat	...	Judge R.H. White
Willard Robertson	...	Captain of Detectives

Also Known As:

Dangerous Days (UK)

Runtime:

68 min | Germany:53 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2694)

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

The movie shown in the movie theater scene (about an hour into the film) is another Warner Bros. release, Footlight Parade (1933).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Noticably slimmer stunt man for Tommy as he hits his head on the RR sign post and falls on the tracks.

Quotes:

Edward 'Eddie' Smith: Go ahead! Put me in a cell. Lock me up! I'm sick of being hungry and cold. Sick of freight trains. Jail can't be any worse than the street. So give it to me!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)

Not bad at all

This movie is very atypical of the good-kids-pushed-to-the-brink drama. This film is packed with energy and is a joy to behold. However, the only aspect that doesn't ring true is the WIZARD OF OZ ending wherein everyone gets what they need. Warner Bros. heavies have never been so snuggly. I highly doubt this is how it was in the height of the Great Depression, which is strange for a movie that depicts such realism (and desperation) of the time.