Police Chief Jim Fitzpatrick ruthlessly goes after organized crime and is prepared to use brutal and violent methods to fight it.Police Chief Jim Fitzpatrick ruthlessly goes after organized crime and is prepared to use brutal and violent methods to fight it.Police Chief Jim Fitzpatrick ruthlessly goes after organized crime and is prepared to use brutal and violent methods to fight it.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Detective
- (uncredited)
- Mayor
- (uncredited)
- Turnkey
- (uncredited)
- Police Dispatcher
- (uncredited)
- Policeman #5 on Telephone
- (uncredited)
- Pat - Car 47 Driver
- (uncredited)
- Joel - Policeman Outside Car 47
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
*** (out of 4)
MGM gangster film shown from the point of view of the police. Capt. Fitzpatrick (Walter Huston) is out to bring down gangster Sam Belmonte (Jean Hersholt) but is sold out by his brother (Wallace Ford) who has fallen for the gangster's girl (Jean Harlow). This film is certainly a lot different than the Warner gangster pictures as it doesn't glamorize the gangsters but instead puts the spotlight on the public for allowing gangs to rule the streets. Huston is his usual fiery self and both Ford and Harlow shine in their supporting roles. The subplot between Ford and Harlow is a bit weak but it leads to a highly powerful ending, which is among one of the best scenes from all the gangster films from this period.
It's a pretty good crime movie up to the ridiculous climax, where the two sides look like warring armies engaged in a frontier showdown. Why a police chief would deploy his men so recklessly is a real stretch. But, never mind, since there's a metaphorical point at stake here —namely, that police will honorably and bravely defend families no matter the personal cost to them, much as seen in popular Western movies. As a result, what makes for a positive social message is seen in the shootout as not necessarily translating into persuasive cinema.
Harlow makes for a convincing trollop—note her pre-Code liking for pain when properly done! Also, Walter Huston remains one of the fine forgotten actors from this period. Here, he again shows a real ability to convey strong emotion in an understated way. The movie also benefits from LA street locations. It's always a kick to see the styles and fashions from that long ago time. Anyway, taken in its time period, the movie remains very revealing in more ways than one.
Did you know
- TriviaMickey Rooney had just turned 11 years old when he played Walter Huston's young son in his first full-length sound feature film. His character's name is also "Mickey," and his first line is, "Say, those don't look like pancakes!"
- GoofsWhen Ed and Daisy first kiss, in a medium shot, he's holding her head in the crook of his left arm, and her right had is on his side. In the next closer shot, his arm is down and her right hand is up on his lapel.
- Quotes
Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont: [Ed grabs her arm tightly] Say! That hurts a little bit.
Det. Ed Fitzpatrick: And you don't like to be hurt, do you?
Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont: Oh, I don't know.
[Suggestively]
Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont: Kinda fun sometimes if it's done in the right spirit.
Det. Ed Fitzpatrick: [Pushes her away] Get the beer!
- Crazy creditsOpening card: Instead of the glorification of cowardly gangsters, we need the glorification of policemen who do their duty and give their lives in public protection. If the police had the vigilant universal backing of the public opinion in their communities, if they had the implacable support of the prosecuting authorities and the courts, I am convinced that our police would stamp out the excessive crime, which had disgraced some of our great cities. ---- President Herbert Hoover
- ConnectionsFeatured in Harlow: The Blonde Bombshell (1993)
- SoundtracksChopsticks
(1877) (uncredited)
Traditional piano tune
Music by Euphemia Allen
Played on piano by Betty Mae Crane and Beverly Crane
- How long is The Beast of the City?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- City Sentinels
- Filming locations
- 3849 Main Street, Culver City, California, USA(robbery at the Bank of America branch)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $230,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 26m(86 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1