| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Clark Gable | ... | ||
| William Powell | ... | ||
| Myrna Loy | ... | ||
| Leo Carrillo | ... | ||
| Nat Pendleton | ... | ||
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George Sidney | ... | |
| Isabel Jewell | ... | ||
| Muriel Evans | ... | ||
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Thomas E. Jackson | ... |
Richard Snow
(as Thomas Jackson)
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| Isabelle Keith | ... |
Miss Adams
(as Claudelle Kaye)
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Frank Conroy | ... | |
| Noel Madison | ... | ||
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Jimmy Butler | ... |
Jim as a Boy
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| Mickey Rooney | ... |
Blackie as a Boy
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| Shirley Ross | ... | ||
Orphans Edward "Blackie" Gallagher and Jim Wade are lifelong friends who take different paths in life. Blackie thrives on gambling and grows up to be a hard-nosed racketeer. Bookworm Wade becomes a D.A. vying for the Governorship. When Blackie's girlfriend Eleanor leaves him and marries the more down to earth Wade, Blackie harbors no resentment. In fact, their friendship is so strong that Blackie murders an attorney threatening to derail Wade's bid to become Governor. The morally straight Wade's last job as D.A. is to convict his friend of the murder, and send him to the electric chair. After he becomes Governor, Wade has the authority to commute Blackie's death sentence-- a decision that pits his high moral ethics against a lifelong friendship. Written by Gary Jackson <[email protected]>
Excellent performances and direction combine with an exemplary script. Like all good fables, this story runs far deeper than its apparently simple premise. The same can be said of the fine acting from all players. The film explores the notion of nobility from highly contrasted perspectives and it offers plenty to discuss beyond the closing credits. Well worth catching!