A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist.A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist.A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 2 nominations total
Joel Allen
- Operative
- (uncredited)
Claudia Barrett
- Cashier
- (uncredited)
Ray Bennett
- Guard
- (uncredited)
Marshall Bradford
- Chief of Police
- (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg
- Convict
- (uncredited)
John Butler
- Motorist at Gas Station
- (uncredited)
Robert Carson
- Agent at Directional Map
- (uncredited)
Bill Cartledge
- Car-Hop at Drive-In Theatre
- (uncredited)
Bill Clark
- Guard
- (uncredited)
Leo Cleary
- Railroad Fireman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe character of Cody Jarrett was based on New York murderer Francis Crowley, who engaged in a pitched battle with police in the spring of 1931 at the age of 18. Before his execution in the electric chair on 1/21/32, Crowley's last words were, "Send my love to my mother."
- GoofsThe gas station attendant removes the radiator cap with his bare hand.
- Quotes
Cody Jarrett: Made it, Ma! Top of the world!
- Crazy creditsMax Steiner altered the Warner Brothers familiar introductory theme to segue directly into his theme for the opening credits,
- Alternate versionsAlso Available in a Colorized Version.
- ConnectionsEdited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
- SoundtracksFive O'Clock Whistle
(1940) (uncredited)
Music by Josef Myrow, Kim Gannon & Gene Irwin
Played on a radio
Featured review
The old saying, "They don't make 'em like they used to" fits this film to a T. Every other crazed-killer-goes-on-a-rampage movie ever made pales next to it. This is the best performance of Cagney's career (although, astoundingly enough, he didn't think much of the picture or his work in it, dismissing it as "just another gangster flicker"). Only Cagney could take a character like Cody Jarrett, a snarling, murderous monster with a mother fixation--someone you KNOW is going to get his at the end--and still almost make you wish he gets away. The film is one taut nerve from beginning to end. There's not a wasted moment in it; it starts out at full blast with the daring robbery of a mail train barreling through a mountain pass and doesn't let up. Performances are universally top-notch, from the stars on down to the extras. Far and away the finest film of director Raoul Walsh's long and distinguished career, this movie can take its place as not only the best gangster film ever made, but as one of the best films ever made, period.
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Alma negra
- Filming locations
- 198th Street and Figueroa, Torrance, California, USA(final scene at Shell Oil plant)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,300,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $5,534
- Runtime1 hour 54 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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