Every studio in Hollywood jumped on board the gangster film paddy wagon after the success of "Little Caesar" and its even more successful follow-up, "The Public Enemy". Fox cast the then still fairly unknown Spencer Tracy in this creaky but well photographed retread of Warner Brother's smash hits. He's a former truck driver turned small time racketeer who strikes it big through the vandalism of automobiles to increase the business of a large garage lacking in clients. Now one of the biggest mob bosses of them all, he threatens construction businesses, gets involved in protection racketeering, and isn't afraid to utilize murder as a scare tactic. Another rising star, George Raft, has the supporting role of Tracy's sidekick (much like he did with Paul Muni in the later hit "Scarface") and gets to show off his dancing talents in one sequence.
However, the rest of the supporting cast is basically unmemorable with the exception of Sally Eilers as Tracy's bitchy moll. Marguerite Churchill, as the sister of one of Tracy's victims, is boring as the heroine. No matter how good Tracy is as an actor (and he still remains one of the best), he seems far too classy for this part, although he still sneers and barks orders with style. However, the script never really develops his character all that well, and the static formulaic structure never does anything but present episodes from this criminal's life rather than tell a great story. The ending, though, has a surprise twist that you won't see coming.
However, the rest of the supporting cast is basically unmemorable with the exception of Sally Eilers as Tracy's bitchy moll. Marguerite Churchill, as the sister of one of Tracy's victims, is boring as the heroine. No matter how good Tracy is as an actor (and he still remains one of the best), he seems far too classy for this part, although he still sneers and barks orders with style. However, the script never really develops his character all that well, and the static formulaic structure never does anything but present episodes from this criminal's life rather than tell a great story. The ending, though, has a surprise twist that you won't see coming.