Each Dawn I Die (1939)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

William Keighley

Writers:

Norman Reilly Raine (screenplay) and
Warren Duff (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 August 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Although innocent, reporter Frank Ross is found guilty of murder and is sent to jail. While his friends...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Reporter | Prison | Orchestral Music Score | Corruption

Cast

James Cagney	...	Frank Ross
George Raft	...	'Hood' Stacey
Jane Bryan	...	Joyce
George Bancroft	...	John Armstrong
Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom	...	Fargo Red (as Maxie Rosenbloom)
Stanley Ridges	...	Meuller
Alan Baxter	...	Carlisle
Victor Jory	...	Grayce
John Wray	...	Pete Kassock
Edward Pawley	...	Dale
Willard Robertson	...	Lang
Emma Dunn	...	Mrs. Ross
Paul Hurst	...	Garsky
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Lassiter
Joe Downing	...	Limpy Julien

Also Known As:

Killer Meets Killer

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #5085) | Sweden:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Sing Sing Penitentiary - 354 Hunter Street, Ossining, New York, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Many people who are in studio records/casting call lists as cast members did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): Al Lloyd, Tom Wilson, Alice Connors and Fern Barry (Accident Witnesses), Eddy Chandler (Deputy), Vera Lewis (Juror), Earl Dwire (Judge Crowder) and Frank Mayo (Telegraph Editor). In addition, a modern source lists Nat Carr and Granville Bates as cast members, but they were not seen either.

Quotes:

'Hood' Stacey: You're the only guy I ever met that gave me a break without putting the bee on me for dough.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Young Frankenstein (1974)

Soundtrack:

Wings Over the Navy

Full of clichés, but still quite wonderful

This is a great prison film--with lots of unusual twists, a great story and stellar actors. While many of the usual 1930s prison film clichés are definitely present, the overall package is so enjoyable that many will forgive its excesses. I must point out, though, that many modern audiences might laugh a bit at the dialog, but fans of Warner films of the age have come to expect and love these type films.

The movie begins with crusading reporter, Jimmy Cagney, being set up for a crime to stop him from investigating crooked public officials. On this trumped up charge, he is given a hefty prison sentence and is sent to a tough prison. On the way, he meets habitual criminal, George Raft, and they strike up a very bizarre friendship.

At first, Cagney is sure his conviction will be overturned and he's practically a model prisoner. However, after years in jail and no breaks in sight, he agrees to help Raft with a breakout and Cagney's life behind bars gets significantly worse.

Where it all goes from there you'll just need to see for yourself. However, considering that two exceptional tough guy actors head the cast (Cagney and Raft), you know this will be an exciting film--which it certainly is. Now being a Warner product, you know that the prison lingo and action will be a bit hard to believe and you know that, given a chance, Cagney will chew the scenery (he definitely does overact a bit here and there). But considering how entertaining it all is, I can certainly forgive all this. A great film for fans of old time films.