
Angels with Dirty Faces
Seen it?1938 | 97 min | Crime, Drama
Why it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), it drew serious awards attention and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved The Public Enemy or Point Blank, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1938: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Childhood chums Rocky Sullivan and Jerry Connelly grow up on opposite sides of the fence: Rocky matures into a prominent gangster, while Jerry becomes a priest, tending to the needs of his old tenement neighborhood.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$2 million worldwide on a $633K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 111K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
The Public EnemySaturday SpecialAlso stars James Cagney, in another mob crime drama.
Little CaesarSunday Safe BetAnother mob crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Point BlankSaturday SpecialAnother mob crime drama.
Touch of EvilFriday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed mob crime drama.
The Wrong ManSunday Safe BetAnother crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Michael Curtiz
- James CagneyRocky Sullivan
- Pat O'BrienJerry Connolly
- Humphrey BogartJames Frazier
- Ann SheridanLaury Ferguson
- George BancroftMac Keefer
- Billy HalopSoapy
- Bobby JordanSwing
- Leo GorceyBim
- Gabriel DellPasty
- Huntz HallCrab