The Roaring Twenties
Seen it?1939 | 104 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. 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
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 44 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1939: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
After World War I, Armistice Lloyd Hart goes back to practice law, former saloon keeper George Hally turns to bootlegging, and out-of-work Eddie Bartlett becomes a cab driver. Eddie builds a fleet of cabs through delivery of bootleg liquor and hires Lloyd as his lawyer. George becomes Eddie's partner and the rackets flourish until love and rivalry interfere.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 48K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Raoul Walsh
- James CagneyEddie Bartlett
- Priscilla LaneJean Sherman
- Humphrey BogartGeorge Hally
- Gladys GeorgePanama Smith
- Jeffrey LynnLloyd Hart
- Frank McHughDanny Green
- Paul KellyNick Brown
- Elisabeth RisdonMrs. Sherman
- Edward KeaneHenderson
- Joe SawyerThe Sergeant