| Release Date: | May 1934 |
|---|---|
| Genres: | Crime / Drama / Romance |
| Awards: | Won Oscar. |
| Cast: | Clark Gable (Edward J. 'Blackie' Gallagher), William Powell (James W. 'Jim' Wade), Myrna Loy (Eleanor Packer), Leo Carrillo (Father Joe), Nat Pendleton (Spud 'Spuddie'), George Sidney (Poppa Rosen), Isabel Jewell (Annabelle), Muriel Evans (Tootsie Malone), Thomas E. Jackson (Asst. Dist. Atty. Richard Snow (as...), Isabelle Keith (Miss Adams (Jim's secretary) (as...), Frank Conroy (Blackie's defense attorney), Noel Madison (Manny Arnold), Jimmy Butler (Jim Wade as a boy), Mickey Rooney (Blackie as a boy), Shirley Ross (Singer in Cotton Club), Herman Bing (German proprietor (scenes deleted)), Garry Owen (Campaign manager (scenes deleted)), Henry Roquemore (Bandleader (scenes deleted)), Carl Stockdale (Policeman (scenes deleted)), Oscar Apfel (Speaker of Assembly (uncredited)), William Arnold (Blackjack dealer (uncredited)), William Augustin (Detective (uncredited)), William Bailey (Al Barnes (croupier) (uncredited)), Curtis Benton (Announcer (uncredited)), John Bleifer (Chauffeur (uncredited)), Stanley Blystone (Detective in court (uncredited)), Wade Boteler (Prison guard (uncredited)), Don Brodie (Reporter (uncredited)), G. Pat Collins (Killer in prison (uncredited)), James Curtis (Party leader (uncredited)), Vernon Dent (Otto (German dancer on steamship)...), Charles Dunbar (Panhandler (uncredited)), James Eagles (Boy in prison (uncredited)), Jay Eaton (Drunk (uncredited)), Harrison Greene (Eleanor's dance partner (uncredited)), Donald Haines (Spud as a Boy (uncredited)), Sherry Hall (Assistant District Attorney (uncredited)), Eddie Hart (Reporter (uncredited)), Lew Harvey (Craps dealer (uncredited)), Samuel S. Hinds (Warden of Sing Sing (uncredited)), George Irving (Jim's campaign manager (uncredited)), William Irving (German note holder (uncredited)), Jimmy James (Chemin de Fer dealer (uncredited)), Cullen Johnson (Boy (uncredited)), Payne B. Johnson (Small boy on street (uncredited)), Jack Kenny (Policeman (uncredited)), Leonid Kinskey (Trotskyite slapping Poppa Rosen...), Leo Lance (Leon Trotsky), Jack 'Tiny' Lipson (Uncle Angus (uncredited)), Dixie Lotten (Irish woman talking with Poppa Rosen...), John Marston (Mr. Coates (gambler losing yacht)...), Ralph McCullough (Reporter (uncredited)), Sam McDaniel (Black prisoner on Death Row (uncredited)), Larry McGrath (One of Blackie's hoods (uncredited)), Tom McGuire (Policeman in court (uncredited)), Alex Melesh (Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)), King Mojave (Croupier (uncredited)), Charles R. Moore (Black boy in speakeasy (uncredited)), Pat Moriarity (Trotsky heckler (uncredited)), Lee Phelps (Bailiff (uncredited)), Leslie Preston (Jim's dance partner (uncredited)), Bert Russell (Blind beggar (uncredited)), Harry Seymour (Piano player in casino (uncredited)), Lee Shumway (Policeman (uncredited)), Pepi Sinoff (Jewish woman (uncredited)), Pete Smith (Racetrack announcer (voice) (uncredited)), Bert Sprotte (German note holder (uncredited)), William Stack (Judge (uncredited)), Landers Stevens (Inspector of Police (uncredited)), Stanley Taylor (Police intern (uncredited)), Al Thompson (Street spectator (uncredited)), Edward Van Sloan (Yacht Capt. Swenson (uncredited)), Dorothy Vernon (Boat Passenger (uncredited)), Emmett Vogan (Assistant District Attorney (uncredited)), W.R. Walsh (Croupier (uncredited)), Cotton Warburton ((uncredited)) |
Orphans Edward "Blackie" Gallagher and Jim Wade are lifelong friends who take different paths in life. Blackie thrives on gambling and grows up to be a hard-nosed racketeer. Bookworm Wade becomes a D.A. vying for the Governorship. When Blackie's girlfriend Eleanor leaves him and marries the more down to earth Wade, Blackie harbors no resentment. In fact, their friendship is so strong that Blackie murders an attorney threatening to derail Wade's bid to become Governor. The morally straight Wade's last job as D.A. is to convict his friend of the murder, and send him to the electric chair. After he becomes Governor, Wade has the authority to commute Blackie's death sentence-- a decision that pits his high moral ethics against a lifelong friendship.
