New York City has a lot of great history to dramatize, and this period comical drama covers much of the late 1800's from the lower east side, focusing on two bombastic men who are fascinating, if not really likeable. The characters of Chuck Conners (Wallace Beery) and Steve Brodie (George Raft) were so larger than life that two actors later took their screen names from these characters. Conners is probably a mashup of several real Bowery big shots, but Brodie did famously exist, his jump from the Brooklyn Bridge infamous both as real history and a big smelly Broadway flop, "Kelly" (1965).
It's probably the reunion that Jackie Cooper didn't want, loaned along to 20th Century films with Beery, and as much as they disliked each other, their onscreen chemistry is undeniable even with Cooper's sniffling sobs and Beery's loveable lug a complete contrast to his nastiness. Pert Kelton, best remembered as the loveable Irish mama in "The Music Man", is great as Beery's saloon singing pal, and Fay Wray does a good job as a hard luck newcomer who manages to avoid being forced into prostitution thanks to Beery, but becomes Raft's girlfriend even though he abuses her.
Real life social figures Carrie Nation and boxing champ John L. Sullivan are presented onscreen briefly, with Lillian Harmer very funny as the hatchet wielding battleaxe. Herman Bing adds corny annoyance aa a heavily accented German American, his overplaying for laughs often irritating. But the film is beautifully directed by Raoul Walsh, and I really felt like I had traveled back in time. Surprising that this never got remade in the 40's as it would have worked as a big Technicolor musical like other period films they were famous for.
It's probably the reunion that Jackie Cooper didn't want, loaned along to 20th Century films with Beery, and as much as they disliked each other, their onscreen chemistry is undeniable even with Cooper's sniffling sobs and Beery's loveable lug a complete contrast to his nastiness. Pert Kelton, best remembered as the loveable Irish mama in "The Music Man", is great as Beery's saloon singing pal, and Fay Wray does a good job as a hard luck newcomer who manages to avoid being forced into prostitution thanks to Beery, but becomes Raft's girlfriend even though he abuses her.
Real life social figures Carrie Nation and boxing champ John L. Sullivan are presented onscreen briefly, with Lillian Harmer very funny as the hatchet wielding battleaxe. Herman Bing adds corny annoyance aa a heavily accented German American, his overplaying for laughs often irritating. But the film is beautifully directed by Raoul Walsh, and I really felt like I had traveled back in time. Surprising that this never got remade in the 40's as it would have worked as a big Technicolor musical like other period films they were famous for.