Picture Snatcher

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

1.8K

YOUR RATING

James Cagney and Alice White in Picture Snatcher (1933)

Play trailer1:01

1 Video

38 Photos

Crime Drama

Danny Kean, a former inmate, pursues photography and romance with Patricia, whose father initially disapproves. A ethical dilemma strains their bond until Kean confronts his criminal past.Danny Kean, a former inmate, pursues photography and romance with Patricia, whose father initially disapproves. A ethical dilemma strains their bond until Kean confronts his criminal past.Danny Kean, a former inmate, pursues photography and romance with Patricia, whose father initially disapproves. A ethical dilemma strains their bond until Kean confronts his criminal past.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

1.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Hennessy - Fireman
(as George Pat Collins)

Arthur Vinton

John - Sing Sing Head Keeper

Tom Wilson

Maurice Black

Speakeasy Proprietor
(uncredited)

Stanley Blystone

Prison Guard
(uncredited)

Don Brodie

Hood
(uncredited)

James P. Burtis

Reporter
(uncredited)

Hobart Cavanaugh

James Peters - Drunken Reporter
(uncredited)

George Chandler

Reporter
(uncredited)

Cora Sue Collins

Jerry's Little Girl
(uncredited)

Gino Corrado

Barber
(uncredited)

More like this

6.8

7.0

7.5

7.1

6.5

7.3

7.1

6.6

7.2

6.9

7.9

Angels with Dirty Faces

6.4

The Oklahoma Kid

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
The scene of Danny photographing an execution is based an actual incident in which Chicago-based crime photographer Tom Howard (who was the grandfather of 'George Wendt') surreptitiously snapped the famous photo of convicted murderess Ruth Snyder's January 12, 1928 execution in the electric chair at Sing Sing for the New York Daily News.

Goofs
When Jerry the Mug is shot in the back by the cops, his gun falls out of his hand as his body goes limp and then after the gun had already landed on the floor, Danny takes out the camera and snatches pictures of Jerry. But when the pictures get published in the newspapers it now shows Jerry the Mug with a gun still in his hand as he gets shot.

Quotes
[Danny is giving a tour of his newspaper's printing room]
Journalism Student: Yes, here it is - white wood pulp, plain white... Why, today it's raw, but tonight it's cooked with printer's ink, photographic art, the sweat of creative effort. Tomorrow it goes out and hundreds of thousands of men and women feed their starving, mediocre souls on the indiscretions and adventures of others. And then, a little while later, what is it?
Danny Kean: Don't you know? They use it to wrap up herring.

Connections
Featured in Brother Can You Spare a Dime (1975)

Soundtracks
That's All That Matters To Me
(1932) (uncredited)
Music by Herb Magidson and Sam H. Stept
Played throughout the film as well as at the beginning and the end.

User reviews40

Review

Featured review

7/10

Cagney the Paparazzi

Freshly paroled from New York's "Sing Sing Prison", tough-guy James Cagney (as Daniel "Danny" Kean) takes a perfume bath and gets himself a new suit. After telling old gangster pals he's going straight, Mr. Cagney decides he wants a career in journalism. He approaches the tabloid "Graphic-News" for a job. Hard-drinking city editor Ralph Bellamy (as McLean) won't hire Cagney, but changes his mind when the ex-con delivers an exclusive picture for the newspaper. Cagney saves Mr. Bellamy's job and is hired as a staff photographer. Cagney arouses sexy staff reporter Alice White (as Allison), but later prefers pretty Patricia Ellis (as Patricia "Pat" Nolan)...

Cagney struts around this second-tier feature like a first-rate star. He, director Lloyd Bacon, photographer Sol Polito, editor William Holmes and the Warner Bros. crew make punk look classy. The centerpiece is Cagney's assignment to photograph an electric chair execution. Also notable is the easy sex offered by a lone female co-worker. She puts the lonely staff ladies room to good use, but Cagney is a gentleman after discovering Ms. White is considered Bellamy's girl. Also watch for bookish bit-player Sterling Holloway and three beautiful young students. Based on a story by Danny Ahern, "Picture Snatcher" was re-made as "Escape from Crime" (1942).

******* Picture Snatcher (5/6/33) Lloyd Bacon ~ James Cagney, Ralph Bellamy, Alice White, Patricia Ellis