Even though this is early in talking era, the film is pretty good. Mervyn LeRoy is a good director. While the script here limits what can be done, he does pretty well with telling the story on screen. John Gilbert stars as Giacomo Tomasulo aka Jack Thomas, a gentleman who becomes involved in the nasty bootlegging business because of the death of his father by a gang hit slug, and finds out he has a brother in the business. He is living the life of a gentleman until he finds out about his family who have been kept secret from him due to his dead mother's wishes.
Leila Hyams is Marjorie Channing is the society woman who is in love with Gilbert until she finds out about his gangster father and brother. Then she deserts him like a shot though he does not find out about it immediately is is planning for her to come back.
Anita Page is Ruth Corrigan, the gangsters moll who eventually replaces Marjorie Channing as the woman in his life. Her mob connections are a liability to him, as he is not aware of them when he starts dating her.
Louis Wolheim as Frank Tomasulo is Giacomo's brother. He is excellent in this role and tries to help his brother survive and adjust to his new role as a bootlegger which he is a novice at.
The most dangerous guy is John Miljan as Florio, the rival gang boss who is trying to kill Frank, and Ruth, and Giacomo once he finds out about their connections.
The title of this film reveals the ending, but the acting and writing and direction are good in an early sound film which this is. Leonard Praskins who wrote the screenplay would later do one for The Champ which is a great film from 1931 too. Because of the silent movies done before this, the experience of the folks in film makes this a better pre-code mob film than you would expect.
Leila Hyams is Marjorie Channing is the society woman who is in love with Gilbert until she finds out about his gangster father and brother. Then she deserts him like a shot though he does not find out about it immediately is is planning for her to come back.
Anita Page is Ruth Corrigan, the gangsters moll who eventually replaces Marjorie Channing as the woman in his life. Her mob connections are a liability to him, as he is not aware of them when he starts dating her.
Louis Wolheim as Frank Tomasulo is Giacomo's brother. He is excellent in this role and tries to help his brother survive and adjust to his new role as a bootlegger which he is a novice at.
The most dangerous guy is John Miljan as Florio, the rival gang boss who is trying to kill Frank, and Ruth, and Giacomo once he finds out about their connections.
The title of this film reveals the ending, but the acting and writing and direction are good in an early sound film which this is. Leonard Praskins who wrote the screenplay would later do one for The Champ which is a great film from 1931 too. Because of the silent movies done before this, the experience of the folks in film makes this a better pre-code mob film than you would expect.