Angels with Dirty Faces (Warner Bros.) (1938)

JAMES CAGNEY as Rocky Sullivan—kid who becomes a killer RE SSSSSsy ROSS Must we travel roads of destiny that have been prepared for us, or may we by our own efforts, or the efforts of our friends, chart new courses and find ourselves with renewed courage for the journey of life By Harry Lee DY THERE ATE who clini hat our Hives are laid out for us by the fates before our arrival in this cock-eyed world. Nothing, they insist, can alter the pattern that has been ordained for us. Environment, they declare, cannot change it, nor can we ourselves, or our friends. What is to be, will be. As the tree falls, so shall it lie. If it is shown that city slums breed criminals, they point to the fact, and it is a fact, that some of the greatest benefactors of humanity, have come from among the lowliest. If blood counts, they ask, why should Edwin Booth become one of the world’s greatest actors, while his brother, John Wilkes, became a murderer? If surroundings count, why should the Revolution make a traitor of Benedict Arnold and a martyr of Nathan Hale? — But luckily for the world there is another school of thought. There are those who realize our common humanity — who know the value of the friend-in-need — who have faith in the essential nobility of man — and with true humility say what John Wesley said when he saw a bedraggled wreck of humanity shamble by: ‘‘ There — but for the Grace of God — go I!’’ Such a man was ‘‘Father Jerry’ Connelly.’? : He was pondering the immortal words as he paced back and forth in his dim study, after returning from a visit to the penitentiary, where his boyhood friend, ‘‘ Rocky Sullivan,’? was soon to be executed as a killer. if Father Jerry shook his head and sighed ... ‘f*And to think that Rocky is where he is — only because he couldn’t run as fast as I could—?’’ Looking back across the years he saw himself and Rocky—freckled, red-headed, fiery, warm-hearted Rocky. Two underfed and friendless waifs, forced to prove with their fists, or their vituperative tongues, that they, too, had a right to live in that teeming cesspool of the slums which was all the home they knew. ‘It was the law of the jungle they lived by. Fang and claw. And the devil take the hindmost. He thought of them as they sang in the church choir in their white vestments. Looked for all the world like angels, the old ladies used to tell them, and sounded like them, too. Angels with dirty faces ... angels for a little while, and then back again to the grime and the rags. He recalled the two of them bringing their bits of broken wood as their ‘license’ to a place by the gutter fires the kiddies built in the fall evenings — windy fall evenings, beautiful to remember. Pals Through Boyhood He saw them snitching apples from push carts. Scaring the Chinaman. Bashing passersby with flour-filled bags on Hallowe’en. Stealing rides on trucks. Hopping the slow freights that had given their neighborhood the gruesomely appropriate name, ‘Death Avenue.’ Pals through it all. Jerry Connelly and Rocky Sullivan ... pals with life looming big before them. Longing for the time when they could lord it over the rest of the mob .. . be like the tough young hoodlums they brushed shoulders with or read about in the tabs. With misty eyes Father Jerry recalled the fateful day that meant the parting of the ways. , The day that started Rocky on the tragic trek that ended ‘up the river,’ in a cell that faced a stone corridor, that led to a low green > SSSR PAT O’BRIEN —as Father Connelly —the crusading priest door, beyond which waited =. _ terror and death. se £ Rocky Was Slower They had broken into a box car that day. Thought they were big shots. * Were congratulating themselves on getting away with it when the cops’ whistles shrilled. Under freight cars. Down dark alleys and darker stairways. Up fire escapes. Over roofs. They fled headlong. Neck and neck at first. Then Rocky began losing out a bit. Not much, but a little. Then he tripped and fell, and the cops were upon him. He was hailed into court, rags and all, looking very small before the large judge in the black robes. Sentenced to the reformatory. So began his real education in crime. Rocky out at last. Hounded by the police. Skulking from hideaway to hideaway. Convicted of other crimes. _ After fifteen years — Rocky a real gangster . . . glorying in it. Feared by the underworld. Feared by the upperworld. And now, in that cell up yonder . . brazenly awaiting death. be et Sire Sime et After ordination Father Jerry’s first charge had been the church in the old neighborhood and in his flock were hordes of youngsters the police while his pal, Jerry, escapes. Wi ie PUT IK Maiigtia like he and Rocky Sullivan had been. He wanted desperately to help them and among many things he started a boys’ club. The young hoodlums knew that Father Jerry was a regulai guy, but thought the club, even the gym part of it, was rather ‘sissy stuff.’ Big Shot Now One day, to Jerry’s amazement, Rocky strolled into the church. Swaggering, hard-eyed, natty, he returned Jerry’s eager greeting with all the sincerity of which he was capable. ‘‘Ain’t got no heart left, Jerty,’’ he said, ‘‘Had it all chopped outa me at the jails! But — maybe it was worth it — I got plenty dough—know where more’s comin’ from! They don’t put nothin’ over on Rocky Sullivan —~ believe me! ’? He came to the gym and at. once became the idol of the boys. They looked upon him as a real hero. Father Jerry was powerless to let them see him ag he really was. Rocky offered to give his old pal money to build a boys’ club bigger than he had dared to dream. But Father Jerry — knowing the sources of his income — refused. A’Fighting Father Rocky Sullivan and his powerful connections in the political world became such a menace that Father Jerry at last decided to bare the whole matter — to de Neighborhood in which Rocky Sullivan and Jerry Connelly spent their childhood and from which Rocky was sent to reform school. nounce those in high places —expose the rackets and racketeers — which would implicate Rocky. Laury, the girl of the tenements who loved Rocky, came io Father Jerry’s study to plead for him. ‘(What more can you want, Father? They ’ll give you money to build a model center here near the church — they’ll use their influence to help you pull down the tenements and build decent apartments in their places, and...’’ He tried to stop her with a weary wave of his hand. < ‘*Well aren’t these the things you want?’’ she asked impatiently, ‘‘Isn’t that why you’ve started all this trouble?’’ “‘No, Laury. I don’t want — bribes! ?? ““Then what do you want, Father? Why are you hounding Rocky? Why are you trying to send him to prison for life? You can’t do that to Rocky! I won’t let you! It’s not his fault! He was just a kid who made a mistake and got sent up to the reform school — and they made a criminal out of him. But he’s not bad — not really bad! You know that!’’... ‘‘T know ....’’ said Father Jerry sadly. pogether .-. 7 yo zi = a 20 Li ‘¢And whatever they’ve done to him,’’ she cried passionately, ‘‘no matter what he is now. No matter whether he’s right or wrong. We... we both... love him, Wathert?? =. *“Yes, Laury, we do love ‘him. I’ve loved him since we were kids six years old. We...’’? Emotion overcame him for a moment, then he went on. ‘‘We'worked together — fought together — and we stole ss “There But For...” There was no sound in the room but the loud ticking of the clock. ‘*T don’t blame Rocky for what he is today .. .’’ the priest spoke compassionately. ‘‘ ‘ There, but for the Grace of God — go I’...1’d do anything in this world to help him... I1’d give my life for him if that would help ...”? The girl’s tear-stained face brightened. ‘*But it wouldn’t help, Laury.’’ COW .ihs se why 822 ‘<There’d still be these other boys ... these boys whom I don’t want to see grow up like Rocky. night. And do not doubt that our efforts so far have not struck fear and panic into the cesspool of official and near-official corruption. This very afternoon I was approached with a sugar-coated proposition — a bribe offered me by this corrupt officialdom — one hundred thousand dollars for the building and equipment of a recreation center in my parish — If I would agree to refrain from attacks — if I would sabotage thig mass meeting — if I would shut my eyes, stop my ears, and hold my tongue ...?’’ The higher-ups who were listening with Rocky ... cursed. ‘““But the building of an isolated playground to shield my boys from crime is not rooting out the _¢erime itself. It would be only a palliative — not a cure. We must go further than temporary remedies. We must rid ourselves of the criminal parasites that feed on us. We must wipe out those we have ignorantly elected and those who control and manipulate this diseased officialdom behind locked doors .. . we must cease encour S Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney)—now a big shot in the underworld— bets the tough kids of the parish they can’t beat the rival team at basketball in the club run by Father Jerry Connelly (Pat O’Brien.) They have lives, too, Laury. And I can’t throw them away... I Se gee Call sb essa And on the appointed night the next week Father Jerry’s voice was heard by the audience which packed the great hall... and by the unseen millions of the air... among them Rocky and the gang. War By Radio ‘¢And this visible fact that you are present tonight is proof to fling in the teeth of those cynics and skeptics that the public does dare... and doés propose to do something about the appalling conditions I have tried to describe to aging our youth to erime by the glorification of criminals in high office who flagrantly disobey every law and flagrantly get away with 1 arene! The foregoing words but hint at the tremendous power of ‘‘Angels With.Dirty Faces,’’ the Warner Bros. picture in which James Cagney is starred as Rocky Sullivan, and Pat O’Brien as Father Connelly. The cast also includes Humphrey Bogart, George Bancroft, the six ‘Dead End’ kids and Ann Sheridan. Michael Curtiz directed. ‘‘Angels With Dirty Paces?” comes tothe: ...Senses Pheatre=ON: aeeew see next. a ee ea gg eee This Sunday Feature Page Complete with Art a Type; Order “Angels Mat 701-B’— $1.00 from Campaign Plan Editor, 321 West 44th Street, New York City : oo Se ee See oo