Product Description Five members of a teen-age gang, including leader Jimmy Smith, are sent to the State Reformatory, presided over by the melodramatically callous Thompson. Soon, Patsy Gargan, a former gangster appointed Deputy Commissioner as a political favor, arrives complete with hip flask and blonde. Gargan falls for activist nurse Dorothy and, inspired by her, takes over the administration to run the place on radical principles. But Thompson, to conceal his years of graft, needs a quick way to discredit Gargan. .com Archie Mayo's The Mayor of Hell (1933) focuses on the plight of inner-city youth sent to reform schools where they're more likely to be destroyed than rehabilitated. We get a full two reels of setup (featuring troubled lad Frankie Darro, soon to star in Wild Boys of the Road) before James Cagney shows up 24 minutes in, as a political hack whose newly won sinecure of "deputy commissioner" includes token responsibility for Peakstown State Reformatory. A former slum kid himself, he evolves from "What do I have to do to make things look regular?" to taking an active interest in his charges, at the mercy of a warden (Dudley Digges) who's both corrupt and sadistic. An absurdly pain-free revolution reforms Hell for a fleeting moment, till a subplot involving Cagney's larcenous interests sidelines him and opens the way for a violent and anarchic climax. --Richard T. Jameson
F**S
Excellent (except the African American parts)
I'm on a pre-code Hollywood kick and Mayor of Hell came up on the list of movies made during that time. Though I've seen a fair amount of Cagney movies, this one was new for me. I loved everything except the blatantly stereotypical portrayal of the African American dad and his son. Even Buckwheat (aka Bille Thomas) in the Our Gang/Little Rascals series wasn't that overtly stereotyped compared to the other children. I'm angry about it; at the same time, I appreciate the moral of the story and how it was developed overall.
M**N
A Revolution at the Reform School
This film, made just before the Hays Code was enacted (I think), is a surprise. It opens with some very rough stereotypes--one winces and can be outraged at the way the African-American father is depicted--but settles in for a fairly radical presentation on multiple levels. It criticizes punishment culture and promotes an Alfred Adler-Jane Nelsen Positive Discipline idea behind schooling, whether in reform school or in a regular school. The characters become more developed, and the young African-American child becomes an important part of the growing consciousness raising and is given more respectful dialogue. But the key performances are from the main stars, and the young man who leads the reform students against the oppressive authorities. The film is well directed, considering it was not considered an A film when released. There is an ending that sort of ties things together, and is overall a film worth seeing, especially in our present time.
L**E
The Mayor of Hell starring James Cagney
This is a black and white film, 90 minutes long, in dual-layer format. A Warner Bros and Vitaphone Corp. presentation, The Mayor of Hell is a volitile blend of gangster and depression era passions. Cagney plays gangster Patsy Gargan, a firey individual given the job as the manager or director of a woefully run boys reform school (for troubled youth.) He runs up against plenty of problems in the mix, but he's up for the challenge and proves himself more than capable. He sees himself in the faces of these kids, having been raised in the slums also. When he decides to defy everyone to give the kids the opportunities he never had, all hell breaks loose and all the good Gargan does could collapse around him when he missteps into his life of crime.Special Features include bonus movie trailers of the story-line linked "Crime School" (with Humphrey Bogart) and "Hell's Kitchen," a vintage newsreel, a musical short "The Audition", a classic cartoon "The Organ Grinder" and a commentary by film historian Greg Mank.
H**H
Worth Watching
Love this James Cagney movie. Price was just right.
K**E
Slow start, mind blowing ending
This had Cagney in the movie only about 50% of the time. The movie had child stars and Cagney is definitely a star too, however with him fans tend to want to see him dominate the screen as he does so well. I own a dozen other Cagney movies like White Heat, G-Men, Roaring Twenties, Angels with Dirty Faces, the Public Enemy and more but this movie was unlike any of them. The ending was mind blowing despite the slow start to the movie! What an ending!
O**N
jc
very good
A**S
excellent early Cagney
this is excellent. an early masterpiece. Cagney gives a great early performance almost rivaling the one in 'Angels With Dirty Faces'. the Dead End Kids are always great to watch. their performances are impeccable as usual. if you don't enjoy this from start to finish you don't appreciate classic films. enough said.picture and sound are both very good.
R**N
A fairly good vintage Cagney vehicle.
This vintage movie has James Cagney as a gangster who with political connections is made head of a juvenile detention facility. The facilty is run like a concentration camp and the head administrator runs the place like it's commadant. Cagney befriends and ,later, falls for the head nurse who wants to reform the school. The head of the facility played by character actor Dudley Diggs schemes to thwart Cagney's attempts at reform. When an associate of Cagney's is killed and Cagney having to hide out, the former headmaster takes over with a vengeance causing a tragedy. Also in the cast is Allen Jenkins, Allen 'Farina' Hoskins and Frankie Darro. This was ,later, remade as a vehicle for the Dead Kids as Crime School.
S**E
Five Stars
great
R**D
Mayor of Hell Town
Gangster, James Cagney, runs a bad boys town for his own benefit only to find a beautiful woman helps him change his ways.
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