Dead End (1937)

Set in a small New York City slum in the 1930s, "Dead End" very powerfully depicts the hardship, poverty and despair that are a fact of everyday life for its residents and also shows how naturally such conditions can foster criminality. Surprisingly, a large block of luxury apartments has also been built close-by for the very wealthy people who have, more recently, been attracted to the area by its views of the river. The contrast between their beautifully maintained accommodation and the neighbouring cockroach-infested tenements couldn't be greater and effectively throws into sharp focus, the huge differences that exist between the lives of the rich and the poor who, through some unusual circumstances, have ended up living very closely together.Returning after an absence of 10 years, to the neighbourhood where he grew up, notorious gangster Baby Face Martin (Humphrey Bogart) accompanied by his henchman, Hunk (Allen Jenkins), surveys the various changes that have taken place since he left and with some amusement, watches the antics of a local gang of kids who spend their days by the riverside swimming, fighting and generally getting into as much trouble as they possibly can. Martin, who has made a lot of money from his criminal activities, has also had his appearance changed by plastic surgery to try to avoid being caught by the police who want to bring him to trial on a number of murder charges. His disguise doesn't, however, prevent him from being recognised by Dave Connell (Joel McCrea), who's one of his old contemporaries.Dave, who grew up in similar circumstances to Martin, trained and qualified to become an architect but having been unable to get any work in his chosen profession, makes a modest living by doing a variety of low-paid jobs like sign-painting. He and Drina Gordon (Sylvia Sidney), who's deeply in love with him, have been close friends since childhood but currently, Dave only has eyes for Kay Burton (Wendy Barrie), an attractive blonde who enjoys his company but is also the mistress of a rich man who lives in one of the luxury apartments. Drina is a decent, hard-working young woman who struggles to support herself and her younger brother Tommy (Billy Halop). Tommy is the leader of the local gang of kids and so Drina has a constant struggle on her hands to keep him out of trouble.The main purpose of Martin's visit is to meet up again with his mother and his old girlfriend, Francey (Claire Trevor). Both of these meetings end badly because his mother is disgusted by everything he's done and turns him away and Francey, who had worked as a prostitute for some years, is now suffering from a disease which, in her trade, could be regarded as an occupational hazard. The deep sadness he feels then becomes mitigated to some extent by the fact that he's seen as a hero by the street kids who admire the fact that he got away from the neighbourhood and made a lot of money. Dave becomes concerned about Martin's continued presence and his growing influence on the local kids and this eventually leads to a violent conflict and a series of decisions which have a strong bearing on the futures of Dave, Drina, Kay and Tommy."Dead End" is an interesting piece of social commentary that makes a number of valid observations about the links that have always existed between abject poverty and crime and does so in a way that's relatively well-balanced. Examples of this are the ways in which Martin and Dave chose different ways to get out of the hardship that they'd been born into and similarly, the very different ways in which Drina, Francey and Kay tried to make their lives better. Similar balance is also shown in its depiction of the villain of the piece, who has no redeeming qualities but still possesses sufficient humanity to feel deeply hurt by what happens when he finally reacquaints himself with his mother and Francey.The worst feature of this movie is its staginess which fortunately is compensated for, to a great extent, by the sheer power of its story, Gregg Toland's terrific Oscar-nominated cinematography and the excellent performances that bring the whole drama to life so convincingly.

The Dead End Kids, an unemployed architect, and gangster Baby Face Martin (Humphrey Bogart) interact with an East Side neighborhood over one day and night.Based on a play, this is a great cross-section of New York in the 1930s. We have gangster, street kids, and a man who tried to live legitimately. We have love and death. Perhaps most interesting, we open with the idea that the new houses on the East River overlook the slums. This is especially relevant in the 1930s when poverty was probably at it worst.Bogart is given a place of honor on the DVD cover. That is no surprise. But the real star is Joel McCrea, and on a personal note, I think it's a real shame that McCrea -- despite playing a fine leading man many, many times, seems to have been forgotten by the general public. Everyone knows Bogey, whether they watch his films or not... but not McCrea. Is it just because one is easier to parody?

I liked it, thought it dragged out somewhat despite being only an hour and a half, and sure it's very much a product of it's times-the Depression. This does hold your interest though. One-the cast-Bogie on his way up, Sylvia Sidney-often overlooked today, Trevor's cameo, MacRae. Two-the great set. Quite impressive. No CGI here. Sets. I liked the Dead-end Kids-Hall, Halop, Gorcey, etc. These guys were in dozens of films into their 40's playing the same parts. They're certainly NOT the Cripps or the Bloods, say-more latter day Oliver Twist-level street thugs. But the despair and vicious cycle of slum life is still the same.There's Bogie's being shot dead by Joel MacRae, there's the kid being beat up in the warehouse, there's the cameo of Ward Bond as the doorman, there's the rich gal going off w/ her rich businessman boyfriend, etc. You have seen it all before but it's done fairly well here.*** outta ****, pretty good.

It's unfortunate that now morons write gangster films in which all they do is try to "outsadist" everyone else's comic book bad guy.This film showed so much not just about gangsters, but how they fit into the world, and how other characters fit it. Joel McCrea is a trained architect who makes small change as a painter in the run down tenement. The Dead End Kids are varied characters themselves, with the nerdy voiced Gorcey, the later stooge Huntz Hall, and the likable Jordan, for example.And Bogie is the main gangster. We only see two gangsters for most of the film, and it moves at such a great pace that we forget it is only a meager setting, basically a city block.Bogie's bad guy would shine today. He goes back to his old neighborhood to see his mother and ex girlfriend, and their reactions, and his, are totally believable. This film is so well written, that modern gangster film writers are put to shame. No wonder they try to hide this film.There is so much in this film, that it is hard to say more without writing an essay, but it is exciting, dramatic, and adventurous all at once. All the actors, and all the crew, shine.