The Beast of the City
| The Beast of the City | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster |
|
| Directed by | Charles Brabin |
| Produced by | Hunt Stromberg |
| Written by | W.R. Burnett (story) John Lee Mahin Ben Hecht (uncredited) |
| Starring | Walter Huston Jean Harlow Wallace Ford Jean Hersholt |
| Cinematography | Norbert Brodine |
| Editing by | Anne Bauchens |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | February 13, 1932 |
| Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $230,000 (est) |
| Box office | $408,000 (USA) $202,000 (worldwide exc. US) |
The Beast of the City is a 1932 pre-Code gangster movie featuring cops as vigilantes and known for its singularly vicious ending. Written by W.R. Burnett, Ben Hecht (uncredited), and John Lee Mahin, and directed by Charles Brabin, the film stars Walter Huston, Jean Harlow, Wallace Ford and Jean Hersholt, and features Tully Marshall.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Police Captain Jim Fitzpatrick (Walter Huston) is a dedicated family man and crime fighter not averse to using violence to fight violence. Although he's been demoted for political reasons, public outcry forces the mayor to take more aggressive action against sleazy gang boss Sam Belmonte (Jean Hersholt), and Fitzpatrick is promoted to police chief. His younger brother, Police Detective Ed Fitzpatrick (Wallace Ford), allows himself to be seduced by a languorously sexy Belmonte gang moll (Jean Harlow) and needs money to continue the relationship. Frustrated when his principled brother will not promote him, he betrays Jim's trust by conspiring with Belmonte's henchmen in a truck hijacking that results in the deaths of a child and another police officer. After a crooked lawyer is able to get those guilty off on all charges, the relentlessly determined Chief turns to vigilantism to rid the city of its "Beasts."
[edit] Cast
- Walter Huston as Captain Jim Fitzpatrick
- Jean Harlow as Daisy Stevens / Mildred Beaumont
- Wallace Ford as Detective Ed Fitzpatrick
- Jean Hersholt as Samuel "Sam" Belmonte
- Dorothy Peterson as Mary Fitzpatrick
- Tully Marshall as Defense Attorney Michaels
- John Miljan as District Attorney
- Emmett Corrigan as Police Chief "Burt" Burton
- Warner Richmond as Police Lieutenant Tom
- Sandy Roth as Lieutenant John "Mac" McCowsky
- J. Carrol Naish as Pietro Cholo
- Cast notes
- Mickey Rooney played the son of Police-Captain-turned-Chief Jim Fitzpatrick (Walter Huston), in his first MGM role.[1]
[edit] Production
The Beast of the City originated in consultations between MGM head of production Louis B. Mayer and President Herbert Hoover, who was concerned that the public needed to have greater respect for police officers and other law-enforcement officials.[2] The original release included a prologue by Hoover, which was later edited out and then disappeared.[3] The film was produced under the working title "City Sentinels";[2] principle photography took place from 4 November to December 1931[4] at MGM's studios in Culver City.[5]
After the film was completed, Mayer decided that it was not quite right for MGM's image as the home of family entertainment, because it was too violent, despite its focus on law-and-order. Mayer ordered that it be exibited as the bottom feature on double bills.[1] The film was Jean Harlow's opportunity to show MGM that she would cooperate with the studio, and she was rewarded with better roles which shortly would lead to stardom.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ a b c Miller, Frank. "The Beast of the City" (TCM article)
- ^ a b "Notes" on TCM.com
- ^ Osborne, Robert. Outro to the Turner Classic Movies presentation of The Beast of the City. (March 30, 2011)
- ^ "Box office/Business" on IMDB
- ^ "Filming locations" on IMDB
[edit] External links
- The Beast of the City at the Internet Movie Database
- The Beast of the City at the TCM Movie Database
- The Beast of the City at AllRovi
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