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Poster for Big Town Czar

Big Town Czar

Seen it?

1939 | 66 min | Mystery

Monday Morning Maybeearly rating

Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe

With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
A natural pick for anyone fascinated by the criminal underworld and people who enjoy a knot in their stomach. A look inside a world of loyalty, money and betrayal. Same wavelength as Eastern Promises or Lost Highway.
The mood
Tense.
The pace
Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 6 min. Done before bedtime.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1939: an older pace and style.
  • Skip it if you want something to relax to.

When gangster Phil Daley gets rid of his chief Paul Burgess he has everything that money can buy, except the respect of his parents and his sweetheart Susan Warren. His younger brother Danny quits college and forces Phil to make him part of the gang. The overly-ambitious Danny fixes a prize-fight on which rival gang-leader Mike Luger loses heavily and, thinking that Phil has double-crossed him, sends gunmen out to kill Phil. They kill Danny instead and the frightened Phil flees to a country hideout. His chief lieutenant, Sid Travis, sets a trap for Phil when he returns.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 732 people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Arthur Lubin

  • Barton MacLanePhil Daley
  • Tom BrownDanny Daley
  • Eve ArdenSusan Warren
  • Jack La RueMike Luger
  • Frank JenksSid Travers
  • Walter Woolf KingPaul Burgess
  • Oscar O'SheaPa Daley
  • Esther DaleMa Daley
  • Horace McMahonPunchy
  • Ed SullivanNarrator / Newspaper Columnist