The Great O'Malley (1937)

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

Gerald Beaumont (story)
Milton Krims (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 February 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A Tale of a Heartless Policeman

Plot:

Officer O'Malley arrests John Phillips for a traffic violation and costs him a chance at a good job...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Robbery | Hospital | Beautiful Woman | Pawnshop

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Pat O'Brien	...	James Aloysius 'Jim' / 'Jimmy' O'Malley
Sybil Jason	...	Barbara 'Babs' Phillips
Humphrey Bogart	...	John Phillips
Ann Sheridan	...	Judy Nolan
Frieda Inescort	...	Mrs. Phillips (as Frieda Inescourt)
Donald Crisp	...	Police Captain Cromwell
Henry O'Neill	...	Defense Attorney
Craig Reynolds	...	Motorist Honking Horn
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Reporter Pinky Holden
Gordon Hart	...	Doctor Attending O'Malley
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. O'Malley
Mabel Colcord	...	Mrs. Flaherty
Frank Sheridan	...	Father Patrick
Lillian Harmer	...	Miss Taylor, the School Principal
Delmar Watson	...	Tubby

Also Known As:

The Rise of the O'Malleys (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #2451)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Quotes:

Judy Nolan: Can't you understand? It's not only Phillips, it's a whole parade of Phillipses and Barbaras, and Heaven knows how many Mrs. Phillipses. You're not a human being; you're a machine. You're right; you're always right! That's what's wrong with you!

Movie Connections:

Version of The Making of O'Malley (1925)

Soundtrack:

Hänschen klein

Flawed premise

Overall this is a particularly good film. Top-notch acting and direction, an involving plot, realistic scenery. A gaggle of veteran and up-and-coming actors deliver worthy, multi-dimensional performances that make us care about their characters. Pat O'Brien, always reliable as a fast-talking, rough and tough, take charge and take no prisoners character here gives a much more nuanced performance than is his usual. Donald Crisp is reliable as always as O'Brien's boss. Sybil Jason, the South-African wunderkind, was very endearing and a professional despite her age. It's too bad she didn't make it as she grew older. Then there's Humphrey Bogart, Frieda Inescourt, and Ann Sheridan who would all go to much bigger and better things.

So what's my beef? Well, let's consider the basic premise of the film: a man (Bogart) is on his way to work in a beat-up car with faulty exhaust and is given a ticket by an overzealous cop (O'Brien). The delay causes him to lose his job and in desperation he commits a burglary which lands him in prison. OK, so the cop didn't have to cite him for such a minor offense and even after he stopped him, could have believed him and let him go. But this is exactly where the logic is flawed and we find out how in the next few minutes. When Bogart tries to pawn some items the pawnbroker asks him why he doesn't go on relief to which Bogart replies that he wouldn't take any handouts. And there you have it. Had the man been on relief he could have fixed his muffler which would have given the cop no reason to stop him and he would have made it to his job on time. But no, in true pioneer spirit, rather than ask for government help (which after all he contributed to with his taxes) and preferring false pride to responsibility to his family he runs foul of the law and ends up in the clink completely powerless. And to me that's stupid.

Now I'll get off my pedestal and stop sermonizing. "The Great O'Malley" many not be masterpiece but it certainly bears watching and a worthy addition to anyone's collection.