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IMDb > They Made Me a Criminal (1939)

They Made Me a Criminal (1939) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   723 votes
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Down 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Bertram Millhauser (novel) and
Beulah Marie Dix (novel) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for They Made Me a Criminal on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 January 1939 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
I am a fugitive! I am hunted by the mob! I am wanted by the cops! I am forgotten by decent women! (re-release print ad) more
Plot:
A boxer flees believing he has comitted a murder while he was drunk. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
A second chance. more (25 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
John Garfield ... Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney
The Dead End Kids ... Tommy's Gang

Claude Rains ... Det. Monty Phelan

Ann Sheridan ... Goldie West
May Robson ... Grandma Rafferty
Gloria Dickson ... Peggy
Billy Halop ... Tommy
Bobby Jordan ... Angel
Leo Gorcey ... Spit
Huntz Hall ... Dippy
Gabriel Dell ... T.B.
Bernard Punsly ... Milt (as Bernard Punsley)
Robert Gleckler ... Doc Ward (Johnnie's manager)
John Ridgely ... Charles 'Charlie' Magee (reporter)
Barbara Pepper ... Budgie Massey
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
I Became a Criminal
They Made Me a Fugitive
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Runtime:
92 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Desert location shooting was so hot at times that the film melted in the camera. more
Quotes:
Speed: She took eight gallons. That's a dollar twenty-eight. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Projectionist (1971) more
Soundtrack:
Cowboy from Brooklyn more

FAQ

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5 out of 5 people found the following review useful.
A second chance., 5 May 2005
8/10
Author: dbdumonteil

A beautiful film.John Garfield's character is a distant relative of "Les Miserables"'s Jean Valjean while detective Rains recalls Victor Hugo's Javert,the ruthless arm of law.

Like in many films noirs,the city epitomizes evil whereas the country and the nature represents sanctuary,redemption,and a second chance for those whose life seems forever doomed.But even in the luminous daylight,danger may appear suddenly,as the excellent scene at the reservoir shows.John Garfield -an actor who,as Leonard Maltin points out,should be rediscovered:I've never been disappointed by any of his films except for his supporting part in "gentleman's agreement " but it was not his fault-gives a heartfelt sensitive performance and the audience sides with him as soon as he is unjustly accused (the first sequence shows a rather unkind hypocrite person,but all his trials redeem him and how do we feel for him during the last scenes with detective Rains.Colorful characters (grandma and the kids ) add a lot of joie de vivre which is necessary .Humor is also present in the strip poker game as the Dead End brats fleece a rich kid.

I recommend this movie.

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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

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