Three men attempt to make a living in Prohibitionist America after returning home from fighting together in World War I.Three men attempt to make a living in Prohibitionist America after returning home from fighting together in World War I.Three men attempt to make a living in Prohibitionist America after returning home from fighting together in World War I.
- Awards
- 2 wins
Elisabeth Risdon
- Mrs. Sherman
- (as Elizabeth Risdon)
Edward Keane
- Henderson
- (as Ed Keane)
Eddy Chandler
- Second Detective
- (as Eddie Chandler)
John Deering
- Narrator
- (voice)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis marked the end of James Cagney's cycle of gangster films for Warner Bros. Cagney wanted to diversify his roles: he would not play a gangster again until White Heat (1949), ten years later.
- GoofsThe film is full of classic songs from the 1920s, but the arrangements and vocal styles are those of 1939. No attempt is made to reproduce the actual sound of 1920s dance music.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Panama Smith: He's dead.
Cop: Well, who is this guy?
Panama Smith: This is Eddie Bartlett.
Cop: Well, how're you hooked up with him?
Panama Smith: I could never figure it out.
Cop: What was his business?
Panama Smith: He used to be a big shot.
- ConnectionsEdited from The Public Enemy (1931)
- SoundtracksI'm Just Wild About Harry
(1921) (uncredited)
Music by Eubie Blake
Lyrics by Noble Sissle
Played during the opening and closing credits
Also played during the 1922 montage
Sung by Priscilla Lane at the club
Featured review
In this movie, Bogart proves to be the sneering, sadistic gangster
After nearly a decade of concentrating on the gangster period of the twenties, it appeared that Warner Brothers had decided to make one, final glorified kiss-off to the genre in the spectacularly staged "The Roaring Twenties."
Director Raoul Walch was an odd choice for what turned out to be a first-rate action film, for Walsh was not normally a crime-film director The film contained every possible cliché connected with the era
Bogart's portrayal was interesting as we watched him coldly murder an ex-army sergeant who had given him a rough time in the service, and then set put to get rid of Jeffrey Lynn, now a successful lawyer working for the district attorney and intent on crushing Bogart's empire
Cagney, whose energy gave him a panerotic sexual magnetism, was evident with his two relationships which both tend to increase our valuation of Cagney as a person as are the two ladies involved: Priscilla Lane, the innocent whom Cagney helps and loves, and the experienced Gladys George who is evidently devoted to him but never expresses her feelings to him
This basic relationship between Cagney and the two female characters does not take away the great merit of "The Roaring Twenties"much more it proves the skill of Raoul Walsh and the writers in deploying conventional elements in an effective and meaningful way
Director Raoul Walch was an odd choice for what turned out to be a first-rate action film, for Walsh was not normally a crime-film director The film contained every possible cliché connected with the era
Bogart's portrayal was interesting as we watched him coldly murder an ex-army sergeant who had given him a rough time in the service, and then set put to get rid of Jeffrey Lynn, now a successful lawyer working for the district attorney and intent on crushing Bogart's empire
Cagney, whose energy gave him a panerotic sexual magnetism, was evident with his two relationships which both tend to increase our valuation of Cagney as a person as are the two ladies involved: Priscilla Lane, the innocent whom Cagney helps and loves, and the experienced Gladys George who is evidently devoted to him but never expresses her feelings to him
This basic relationship between Cagney and the two female characters does not take away the great merit of "The Roaring Twenties"much more it proves the skill of Raoul Walsh and the writers in deploying conventional elements in an effective and meaningful way
helpful•4714
- Nazi_Fighter_David
- Apr 16, 2005
- How long is The Roaring Twenties?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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