Hell's Kitchen (1939 film)
Hell's Kitchen is a 1939 thriller Warner Bros. film starring The Dead End Kids and Ronald Reagan.
| Hell's Kitchen | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Lewis Seiler E.A. DuPont |
| Produced by | Mark Hellinger Bryan Foy |
| Written by | Crane Wilbur Fred Niblo, Jr. |
| Starring | Billy Halop Bobby Jordan Leo Gorcey Huntz Hall Gabriel Dell Bernard Punsly Margaret Lindsay Ronald Reagan Stanley Fields |
| Music by | Ray Heindorf Heinz Roemheld |
| Cinematography | Charles Rosher |
| Edited by | Clarence Kolster |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 82 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
Buck Caesar is a paroled convict who makes a contribution to a reform school on the advice of his nephew, Jim Donahue, a lawyer. Jim feels that the boys in the reform school, including Tony, Gyp, Joey, Bingo, Ace, and Ouch, could benefit from the contribution, and he believes the publicity from it will help his uncle.
The superintendent, Krispan, does not want the contribution to lead to an audit, as he has been carrying two sets of financial books. He gets a professional hockey team to substitute for the team his school will be playing. His reasoning is that Buck will place a large bet on the school and lose, thereby getting him angry and possibly violent, which would violate his parole and send him back to prison. Buck does proceed to get angry, and punches the opposing coach, and then hides to avoid arrest.
Krispan continues in his role as ruler of the school, which had deteriorated under Buck's influence. As punishment for their actions while Buck was around, Krispan locks Joey into a freezer, and he dies. The other kids revolt and Buck comes out of hiding to aid them. The kids capture Krispan and make him go through a trial where they convict him to "join Joey". Buck, however, has gone to the police, and they arrive in time to stop them. Krispan is punished through the proper legal channels, and Buck returns to prison for violation of parole.
Cast
The Dead End Kids
- Billy Halop as Tony Marco
- Bobby Jordan as Joey Richards
- Leo Gorcey as Gyp Haller
- Gabriel Dell as Ace
- Huntz Hall as Bingo
- Bernard Punsly as Patrick Henry "Ouch" Rosenbloom
Additional players and supporting cast
- Ronald Reagan as Jim Donahue
- Margaret Lindsay as Beth Avery
- Stanley Fields as Buck Caesar
- Frankie Burke as Soap
- Grant Mitchell as Krispan
- Frederic Tozere as Mike Garvey
- Arthur Loft as Elmer Krispan
- Vera Lewis as Sarah Krispan
- Robert Homans as Hardy
- Charley Foy as Floogie
- Raymond Bailey as Whitey
- Robert Strange as Callahan
- Clem Bevans as Mr. Quill
- George Irving as Judge
- Lee Phelps as Bailiff
- Jimmy O'Gatty as Mug
- Ila Rhodes as Maizie
- Don Turner as Chick
- George O'Hanlon as Usher
Previous versions
The film is a remake of The Mayor of Hell (1933) starring James Cagney, and another Dead End Kids film, Crime School (1938).
Rating
The film was given an "H" rating (now known as an "X" rating) in the United Kingdom due to its violence.[2]
Home media
The film was released as a double feature DVD by Warner Archives with On Dress Parade on January 22, 2013.
References
- Hayes, David (1982). The Films of the Bowery Boys. Secaucus, NJ: The Citadel Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0806509310.
- Getz, Leonard (2006). From Broadway to the Bowery. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc.
External links
- Hell's Kitchen at IMDb
- Hell's Kitchen at the TCM Movie Database