A lifeless gangster film starring Huston as the boss of an extortion racket. Huston and his thugs come down on produce merchants with what they call "The System." At the peak of his underworld power Huston begins to have second thoughts about his life of crime, spurred by his daughter
Young's repudiation of him. Just as Huston decides to go straight, he is betrayed by his trusted henchman, Digges, and is killed. An early gangster film, but produced without the skill, insight, or passion of genre masterpieces LITTLE CAESAR (1930), SCARFACE (filmed in 1930 but not released until
1932), or PUBLIC ENEMY (1931).
Released:
1931
Rated:
NR
Length:
76 mins