Sworn Enemy (1936) User Reviews

Young In Great Form

[Handlinghandel · 7/10 · 14 October 2005]

A dark movie that, had it been made a few years later, would have been a film noir. It begins with Robert Young's looking for a job. He can't get one because gangsters insist that he pay protection money that exceeds his potential salary.

He hooks up with the appealing Florence Rice and her boss, who runs the company where he'd been looking for a job. Her father is released from prison and all become involved in a crime-busting plan.

Nat Pendleton as a loyal boxer is at his very best here. He is portrayed as likable, strong, and attractive. The goofiness he was asked to assume in almost every other movie I've seen him in is absent here.

There is a gay undertone to the story as it involves the crime boss. He is a disabled man with an obsession for fighters. We see a frieze of Greco-Roman athletes in his apartment. And when Rice tries to turn his head a little, he tells her sourly that he has no real interest in legs. Maybe this is because of his own disability. Maybe it means women's legs.

The movie packs a wallop and is undeservedly obscure.

It was much better than I expected

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 12 April 2017]

So last night I grabbed this one out of my stash of TCM recordings to relax to before going to sleep. It looked like it would be a solid but perhaps predictable B crime drama of revenge just based on its title.

And then I look at that cast. Robert Young, early in his career, first billed to 4th billed MGM stalwart Lewis Stone? This got me interested and kept me that way. This was one of the positives of the old studio system. The studios could build up a cast of players known for inhabiting a certain type of role and almost any writer and director could get the audience to "get" that character without too much sweat.

Robert Young plays broke law student Hank Sherman who gets a job loading produce. Unfortunately, he almost immediately runs afoul of the "Produce Delivery Protective Association" when he refuses to give them a percentage of his pay and they begin beating him. Along comes Eli Decker, owner of all of the warehouses on five blocks, in his limousine when he sees the sight. He gives chase to the gangsters with his cane and asks Hank if he would like a job as his chauffeur. Decker's driver ran away when he was asked to help stop the gangsters. I wonder how far he got in that neighborhood at night on foot in a chauffeur's outfit? At any rate I thought I could see where this film was going completely. I was wrong. Wealthy Eli Decker is on a crusade against the very profitable rackets, and he has the ear of all the right people. Florence Rice plays Peg Gattle, Decker's beautiful young employee that Hank has instant eyes for. Lewis Stone plays Dr. Gattle -as in M.D. - who spends twelve years wrongfully imprisoned thanks to the head of the rackets, until Decker gets him out. He's also Peg's dad. In prison Dr. Gattle has figured out who the head of the rackets is and is helping the D.A. and Decker. Meanwhile Hank's brother is training a new fighter played by Nat Pendleton who plays his usual thick headed muscle bound and completely likable good natured character.

So who is the sworn enemy of the title? I won't tell you, but I will tell you that the head of the rackets and all of the men living off of them are not going down without a fight even if it means murder. Also, the original plan that the D.A. has for bringing down the rackets has to be changed mid-film- actually a couple of times. There is a robbery gone wrong, Joseph Calleia as the crippled head gangster whose penthouse has a swell view of dancing girls using their legs like he never could who you could ALMOST feel sorry for if he wasn't such a cold blooded killer, John Wray as the head man's number two guy who seems to delight in violence, a hidden vault full of racketeer money that must be found, and finally, maybe Nat Pendleton's fighter isn't that thick after all.

A rousing good crime film with lots of tension, melodrama, and even some comedy, and a great early role for Robert Young, who, when he isn't chasing the girl with what seem like tired pick-up lines is very good here.

Mainly routine, but keep watching till the end

[goblinhairedguy · 5/10 · 21 July 2006]

For the most part, this is a competently made (great sets, and the editing is particularly crisp) but uninspired melodrama about a steadfast Average Joe standing up to the racketeers who have wronged him. But I have some advice -- don't give up on it too soon (as I nearly did).

The opening 50 minutes are pretty much seen-it-all-before, middle-of-the road MGM stuff, but suddenly in the last reel things perk up immensely. First, we have a beautifully designed and psychologically poignant scene explaining the chief villain's desire to back an up-and-coming fighter. This is followed by the movie's real knock-out punch -- Florence Rice, up to this point the stereotypical pretty-and-loyal girlfriend, agrees to help infiltrate the mob by auditioning as a chorus girl at their club. She adopts the guise of a sexy champagne-swilling dame keen on seducing the crime boss. Although she expresses slight reluctance at first, one surmises that she secretly revels in being such hot stuff in her sexy new togs. Soon, a couple of sips of bubbly have her diving into her role so enthusiastically that the sequence is absolutely jaw-dropping (she flashes a lot more cleavage and leg than you would expect in a post-code movie.) These two scenes turn the movie on its ear, revealing a fascinating subtext of perversity and hidden desire.

Afterwards, the action climax is hurried and sloppy, but it uses a plot device that would later turn up to much more nerve-wracking effect in an Anthony Mann noir.

Strong cast makes this an entertaining watch

[Paularoc · 6/10 · 13 June 2012]

Hank Sherman (Young) is out of work until he lands a job with Eli Decker's (Hinds) firm as a warehouse worker. Soon after he's hired, thugs approach him and tell him that he has to pay them a weekly amount for "protection." When he refuses, the thugs beat him up, an event that Decker sees and tries to break up. Decker hires Sherman as his chauffeur and soon Decker's secretary Peg Gattle (Rice) and Sherman become close. Decker is determined to clear out the protection racket headed by Joe Emerald (Calleia). At this time, Peg Gattle's father, "Doc" Gattle (Stone) is released from prison where he spent 12 years after being framed by Emerald. "Doc" provides information about Emerald that he gleaned while in prison to the District Attorney. Both Sherman and Peg Gattle become agents for the District Attorney and Sherman also becomes the manager of boxer "Steamer" Krupp (Pendleton). Pendleton plays his usual likable doofus – but hey – he does it so well that it's fun to watch. The rest of the movie is about the effort to find Emerald's hidden stash of incriminating documents and cash. Other reviewers have rightly commented on the strange steam room scene with its frieze of nude Greek athletes. That this is indicative of gay undertones may or may not be so but the scene in context makes little sense. I find it unlikely that a big time racketeer would find it necessary to explain to a small time boxing manager (as he thought Sherman was) why he wanted to have a fighter under contract. And while the ending is exciting, Peg Gattle's transformation into a gun moll type is hard to swallow. That said, all of the actors are so good that this movie is highly entertaining. It was also nice seeing Leslie Fenton in a role where he wasn't a slime ball (although no one could play that type better than he).

solid B

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 12 June 2012]

Robert Young, Florence Rice, and Lewis J. Stone star in "Sworn Enemy," a 1936 MGM B movie.

Though not a superstar in films, before he became one in TV, Robert Young played a variety of roles in movies. His likable personality served him well, and he is very good here as Hank Sherman, a young man who goes undercover to get evidence against Joe Emerald, the head of a protection organization (Joseph Calleia). His first effort fails miserably when instead of a shooting a cop, he shoots his partner and is thrown out of the group. So he tries again, this time by replacing his brother, killed by the mob, as the manager of a fighter (Nat Pendleton).

Very good and exciting film, with a gay undertone that possibly went over the head of the 1930s audiences. The mob boss, Emerald, is crippled and, from his treatment of Florence Rice's character, has no use for women. When he brings Hank into his deco steam room, it's filled with Greco-Roman friezes of nude men. He more or less tells Hank that he lives vicariously through fighters, which is why he wants Hank's client. An interesting twist on what could have been just a formulaic mob story.

The excellent finale takes place in said steam room, where detectives are searching for hidden files.

Dark film, noirish, albeit before noir, and intriguing. Recommended.

Many if not most harlots flaunting their wares . . .

[tadpole-596-918256 · 6/10 · 27 December 2020]

. . . on the streets of America actually are sworn undercover agents for Uncle Sam, SWORN ENEMY reveals. Jezebel-for-hire "Peg" spends most of her time here prowling around in Crime Lord "Emerald's" steam room, trying to worm her way into his private vault. Pyromaniac Peg literally lights Emerald's fire, toying with arson amid the curtains of her champagne haze. As this sordid strumpet drapes herself around the gimpy top gangster's neck, her boy toy "Hank" looks the other way, realizing that boozers cannot be choosers. It's clear that once this latest caper wraps up, it will be back to the bordello for bawdy Peg.

Not bad...not especially good as well.

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 19 December 2020]

"Sworn Enemy" could have been a very good film, but the script is a bit rough. With a small re-write it could have been very good.

When the story begins, Hank Sherman (Robert Young) is doing what many men were doing during the Depression...looking for work. He finds a job working for a produce company loading trucks but his excitement is shortlived when a group of thugs from 'the Protective Association' demand he pay them $10 a month...or else. When he refuses, they beat the snot out of him. The owner sees this and chases away the thugs...and offers Hank a job as his chauffeur. The pay is good and he'll be able to go back to night school to get his law degree...and so he's a happy guy.

What follows is long, complicated and confusing. First, Hank's out of work, second he's a chauffeur, third he's working on becoming a lawyer, fourth he's an undercover agent for the District Attorney, fifth he's a boxing promoter. Do you get my drift? Good writing could have streamlined this and made Hank more realistic.

On the positive side, the film has plenty of action and some exciting moments. But they aren't enough to make this exactly a must-see picture.

Protection Money Tale

[AAdaSC · 4/10 · 22 May 2022]

This film is a little confusing and not very interesting. It's also unbelievable. Robert Young (Hank) drifts into town and picks up jobs as easy as anything I've ever seen and that includes gang member, undercover agent, chauffeur, vegetable factory worker, lawyer. You name it. How totally dumb.

Unfortunately, none of the characters inspire. Joseph Calleia (Joe Emarald) is ok as the lead bad guy but it doesn't say much when Nat Pendleton (Steamer Krupp) who plays a buffoon of a boxer is the most likable cast member. Again, it's not a good sign when the most enjoyable part of the film is spotting Anthony Quinn in a few scenes at the film's climax.

I've read a few of the reviews previously submitted and they have pointed out the next most memorable part of the film and that is the homo-erotic decorations on the walls of Calleia's hotel suite that leads to the steam room. Maybe there is some truth to the idea that these represent his sexuality as he certainly did not seem interested in girls at any point in the movie. Quite the opposite.

It's clearly a B-movie that comes across as hurried and the acting isn't particularly good.

Above average crime drama

[hmpulham · 8/10 · 12 October 2005]

A young man; Hank Sherman (Robert Young) is determined to avenge the murder of his influential benefactor by crime syndicate boss Joe Emerald (Joseph Calleia). With fine acting by Young, Louis Stone, Samuel Hinds and Joseph Calleia; along with the feminine charms or Florence Rice all add greatly to this films enjoyment. Although the movie is pretty much into the 1930's MGM type of formalistic film making, i.e. overcoming huge odds to catch the bad guys: it's filled with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. We are told early in the film who the villain is: the object is to find out where he (Emerald ) is hiding his cash and records, in order prosecute him for income tax evasion. MGM's production here was slick and filled with quality actors. I would rate the film's entertainment value as high.