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Alibi

Name: Alibi
Genre: Crime, Drama
Released: 1929-04-20
Cast: Chester Morris, Eleanor Griffith, Purnell Pratt, Pat O'Malley, Regis Toomey

1929 | 91 min | Crime, Drama

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With almost no lasting buzz and middling reviews (56% on Rotten Tomatoes), it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

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 Angels with Dirty Faces, start here.
The mood: Dark and gritty.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 31 min.
What might put you off: Made in 1929: an older pace and style.

Chick Williams, a prohibition gangster, rejoins his mob soon after being released from prison. When a policeman is murdered during a robbery, he falls under suspicion. The gangster took Joan, a policeman's daughter, to the theater, sneaked out during the intermission to commit the crime, then used her to support his alibi. The detective squad employs its most sophisticated and barbaric techniques, including planting an undercover agent in the gang, to bring him to justice.

How it earned its rating

CriticsBelow par
56% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsSolid
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 9K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Roland West

Chester MorrisChick Williams
Eleanor GriffithJoan Manning Williams
Purnell PrattSgt. Pete Manning
Pat O'MalleyDetective Sgt. Tommy Glennon
Regis ToomeyDanny McGann
Harry StubbsBuck Bachman
Mae BuschDaisy Thomas
Irma HarrisonToots
Elmer BallardSoft Malone - Cab Driver
Al HillBrown - a Crook