In the slums, teenager Frankie Warren hangs out with a rowdy gang who one day knock him out in a fight. In court, the boys refuse to reveal who struck the knockout blow, and all are subsequently sentenced to a reformatory, cruelly run by two corrupt guards. New deputy commissioner Mark Braden arrives determined to change things, but despite the help of Frankie's sister, Mark's reform plans -- and Frankie's future -- may be sabotaged from within.
Acting
Bogart's early 'earnest reformer' era—before cynicism consumed him.
Writing
Dead End Kids slang that sounds like alien poetry now.
Director
Lewis Seiler
Humphrey Bogart
Mark Braden
Gale Page
Sue Warren
Billy Halop
Frank 'Frankie' Warren
Bobby Jordan
Lester 'Squirt' Smith
Huntz Hall
Richard 'Goofy' Slade
Leo Gorcey
Charles 'Spike' Hawkins
Bernard Punsly
George "Fats" Papadopolous
Gabriel Dell
Timothy "Bugs" Burke
George Offerman, Jr.
Red
Weldon Heyburn
Cooper
Cy Kendall
Morgan
Charles Trowbridge
Judge Robert E. Clinton
Spencer Charters
Old Doctor
Donald Briggs
New Doctor
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This is a remake of 1933's 'The Mayor of Hell'—Warner Bros. loved this story so much they made it THREE times (also 'Angels with Dirty Faces' in 1938).
The Dead End Kids were genuine box office gold—so popular they spun off into multiple series names (East Side Kids, Bowery Boys) across two decades.
US
