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Bullets or Ballots

  • 1936
  • Approved
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
Bullets or Ballots (1936)
Trailer for this black and white gumshoe classic
Play trailer3:00
1 Video
74 Photos
Film NoirCrimeDramaThriller

When a crusader against rackets is murdered, a grand jury battles the rackets by promoting McLaren to be in charge of the cleanup. He fires NYPD Detective Blake, who punches him and joins th... Read allWhen a crusader against rackets is murdered, a grand jury battles the rackets by promoting McLaren to be in charge of the cleanup. He fires NYPD Detective Blake, who punches him and joins the racket.When a crusader against rackets is murdered, a grand jury battles the rackets by promoting McLaren to be in charge of the cleanup. He fires NYPD Detective Blake, who punches him and joins the racket.

  • Director
    • William Keighley
  • Writers
    • Seton I. Miller
    • Martin Mooney
  • Stars
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • Joan Blondell
    • Barton MacLane
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    3.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Keighley
    • Writers
      • Seton I. Miller
      • Martin Mooney
    • Stars
      • Edward G. Robinson
      • Joan Blondell
      • Barton MacLane
    • 43User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Bullets or Ballots
    Trailer 3:00
    Bullets or Ballots

    Photos74

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Edward G. Robinson
    Edward G. Robinson
    • Johnny Blake
    Joan Blondell
    Joan Blondell
    • Lee Morgan
    Barton MacLane
    Barton MacLane
    • Al Kruger
    Humphrey Bogart
    Humphrey Bogart
    • 'Bugs' Fenner
    Frank McHugh
    Frank McHugh
    • Herman
    Joe King
    Joe King
    • Capt. Dan McLaren
    • (as Joseph King)
    Dick Purcell
    Dick Purcell
    • Ed Driscoll
    • (as Richard Purcell)
    George E. Stone
    George E. Stone
    • Wires Kagel
    Joseph Crehan
    Joseph Crehan
    • Grand Jury Spokesman
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Ward Bryant
    Henry Kolker
    Henry Kolker
    • Mr. Hollister
    Gilbert Emery
    Gilbert Emery
    • Mr. Thorndyke
    Herbert Rawlinson
    Herbert Rawlinson
    • Mr. Caldwell
    Louise Beavers
    Louise Beavers
    • Nellie LaFleur
    Norman Willis
    Norman Willis
    • Louie Vinci
    Harry Adams
    • Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Russell Beach
    • Prizefighter
    • (uncredited)
    Wilda Bennett
    • Grand Jury Woman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Keighley
    • Writers
      • Seton I. Miller
      • Martin Mooney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Johnny Blake, played by Edward G. Robinson, was based on real-life New York City policeman Johnny Broderick (c.1896-1966) aka "The Duke" or "the toughest cop on Broadway", while Al Kruger, played by Barton MacLane, was based on notorious gangster Dutch Schultz.
    • Goofs
      When Fenner and Kruger are in the theatre watching Ward Bryant's newsreel re-creation of mobsters collecting money from the nickel game machines, there are school children playing the machines. Later on in the real-world, when the police raid Schultz Drug Store and confiscate the nickel game machines, school children are also shown playing the machines. But the school children in the real world are the same ones used in the re-creation including wearing the same clothes.
    • Quotes

      Lee Morgan: Well, it's time you got wise to yourself. Around this town the only reason friends pat you on the back is to find an easy place to break it!

      Johnny Blake: Yeah. You're a friend, aren't you?

      Lee Morgan: Well, I guess you're dumb enough to think so.

    • Connections
      Featured in Breakdowns of 1936 (1936)
    • Soundtracks
      The Lady in Red
      (1935) (uncredited)
      Music by Allie Wrubel
      Whistled by Edward G. Robinson

    User reviews43

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    Good Gangster Pic

    "Bullets or Ballots" is a good 'cops and robbers' movie from Warner Bros., headquarters for gangster pictures in the 30's. It has all the gangster stars on the lot - Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, George E. Stone, Barton McLane and a score of well-known character actors. It also features Joan Blondell, everybody's sweetheart in Warner films of the time.

    The 'racket' here switches from protection to the numbers game, and has Robinson as a racketbuster cop going undercover to unearth McLane's bosses. Robinson is a tough cop with the underworld's respect, although it is humorous to see him intimidate guys a foot taller than he is. Anyway, he infiltrates and the story unfolds in the expected manner, but as only Warner Bros. could tell it. Not a lot different from others of its type but the flashy cast puts this one over. If you haven't seen it and you are a fan of the genre, do so.
    • GManfred
    • Nov 21, 2017
    • Permalink

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 6, 1936 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sindikat zločina
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • First National Pictures
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,605
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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