They Made Me a Criminal

Year:

1939

Duration:

92 min

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

IMDB rate:

7.1

Director:

Busby Berkeley

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1939-01-28

Filming Locations: Palm Desert, California, USA

Cast

Actor

Character

The 'Dead End' Kids

John Garfield

Johnnie

Claude Rains

Detective Phelan

Ann Sheridan

Goldie

May Robson

Grandma

Gloria Dickson

Peggy

Billy Halop

Tommy

Bobby Jordan

Angel

Leo Gorcey

Spit

Huntz Hall

Dippy

Gabriel Dell

T.B.

Bernard Punsly

Milt (as Bernard Punsley)

Robert Gleckler

Doc Ward

John Ridgely

Magee

Barbara Pepper

Budgie

William B. Davidson

Ennis (as William Davidson)

Ward Bond

Lenihan

Robert Strange

Malvin

Louis Jean Heydt

Smith

Frank Riggi

Rutchek

Cliff Clark

Manager (as Cliff Clarke)

Dick Wessel

Collucci

Raymond Brown

Sheriff

Sam Hayes

Fight Announcer

Jack Austin

Cop #1 (uncredited)

Irving Bacon

Speed - Gas Station Attendant

Clem Bevans

Second Fight Ticket Taker (uncredited)

Richard Bond

Reporter at First Fight (uncredited)

Edwin Brian

Newsboy (uncredited)

Mushy Callahan

Schwimmer (uncredited)

Nat Carr

Haskell - Reporter at First Fight (uncredited)

Eddy Chandler

Detective #2 (uncredited)

Georgie Cooper

Elderly Lady (uncredited)

Hal Craig

Detective #3 (uncredited)

Joe Cunningham

Columnist (uncredited)

John Dilson

Doctor (uncredited)

Mike Donovan

Policeman (uncredited)

Tom Dugan

Man Behind Grandma (uncredited)

John Harron

First Fight Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Leyland Hodgson

Mr. Williamson (uncredited)

Stuart Holmes

Second Fight Timekeeper (uncredited)

Arthur Housman

Drunk Next to Grandma (uncredited)

Donald Kerr

Man in Ring After First Fight (uncredited)

Reid Kilpatrick

Radio Sports Commentator (voice) (uncredited)

Harry Leroy

Spectator at Second Fight (uncredited)

Al Lloyd

Man in Front of Spit (uncredited)

Doris Lloyd

Mrs. Williamson (uncredited)

Frank Mayo

Man at First Fight with Tophat (uncredited)

Sam McDaniel

Splash (uncredited)

Larry McGrath

Second Fight Referee (uncredited)

Frank Meredith

Cop #2 (uncredited)

Jack Mower

Man in Locker Room After First Fight (uncredited)

Jimmy O'Gatty

Rutchek's Handler (uncredited)

Paul Panzer

Jim - Assistant Ticket Taker (uncredited)

Bob Perry

Cawley - Jack's Handler (uncredited)

Charles Randolph

First Fight Referee (uncredited)

John J. Richardson

Reporter (uncredited)

Cyril Ring

First Fight Ringsider (uncredited)

Bert Roach

Hendricks (uncredited)

Dave Roberts

Police Announcer (voice) (uncredited)

Sally Sage

Girl Entering Locker Room (uncredited)

Cliff Saum

Man in Front of Tommy (uncredited)

Janet Shaw

Girl Entering Locker Room (uncredited)

John Sheehan

Man in Front of Grandma (uncredited)

Ronald Sinclair

J. Douglas Williamson (uncredited)

Charles Sullivan

Second Fight Trainer (uncredited)

Elliott Sullivan

Mel - Hoodlum Stealing $50 (uncredited)

Dorothy Varden

Minor Role (uncredited)

Tom Wilson

Kid Tacoma (uncredited)

Jack Wise

Second Fight Ticket Seller (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

The John Garfield character (Johnny Bradfield/Jack Dorney) is obsessed with not being made a sucker. The word "sucker" is used 19 times in the film.

Share this

This was a remake of The Life of Jimmy Dolan (1933). To conform with the Hays Office--the industry's censorship board, first imposed in 1934--the reporter in this film is killed by the fighter's manager. In 1933 the prizefighter, Jimmy Dolan, the central character and hero, was the killer.

Share this

Apparently, the copyright on this film was not renewed, and so it fell into public domain; as a result, countless discount VHS and DVD dealers, who normally do not include copyrighted major studio titles in their inventories, do offer this one, but since they don't have access to original negative material, copies are usually unacceptably inferior.

Share this

Goofs

When "Jack Dorney" and some of the kids were trapped in the water tank, they swam to the bottom of the tank to lift a drain cap to let out the water so they wouldn't drown. Of course, the pressure of 10 feet of water in the tank would have exerted 500-600 pounds per square foot on that drain cap, making it much more difficult if not impossible for them to lift it.

Share this

At 38minutes into the film Gloria Dickson's "Peggy" calls John Garfield's character "Johnnie" when he in fact is still under the guise & alias persona of "Jack Dorney"! She could not know that since he has not told anyone at that point of the film.

Share this

Quotes

J. Douglas Williamson: You think you're smart, don't you?

Share this

Ringside Radio Fight Announcer: A right to the jaw. A left to the face. Boy, is he a killer. Is he murderous. The Bull lands a terrific right to Smith's jaw, and Smith is down! It'll be best for Smith if he stays down, because this is downright murder. Smith's face is red pulp; red, red pulp. 8, 9, 10! And Smith's out. Phew! And I'm glad that's over.

Share this

Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney: If you're rootin' for me, I'll go in there and bang the ears off the biggest guy in the world.

Share this

Faq

Q

Chicago Opening Happened When?

A

The hit Warner Bros. film, They Made Me A Criminal, opened in Chicago at the ace Loop house, the Chicago theatre, on Friday, February 10, 1939---the ad reads: "The Picture the Whole World is Talking About! . . . John Garfield, The 'Dead End' Kids, Claude Rains, Ann Sheridan, May Robson, Gloria Dickson . . . A Warner Bros. Picture . . . Stage Revue, Extra! Romantric Valentine with the Singing Sweethearts . . .

Share this