The Mayor of Hell

Surprisingly good. The kid actors weren't horrible, and Cagney's a knockout, as always. Actually had a few tender moments.

O prefeito do Inferno estreava há 90 anos na França. Apesar de não ser especialmente memorável, este filme tem o coração no lugar certo. Tipo um Pixote pre-code com síndrome de salvador branco, é bem mais sensível e contra as instituições opressoras do que o poster quer fazer crer. Plus: revolução! Box OP Cinema Gângster.

Great performances not only by Cagney, but by kid actors as well. Story is really engaging and works emotionally. As the movie progresses it takes a few missteps, but I was amazed how good it is considering that it's almost unknown.

Frankie Darro as the troubled one. This has got a lot of moving and brutal moments too. It sets the social problems with irresponsible parents and their kids being sent to reform school under the hard regime of Dudley Digges. Then none other then the bad boy himself - James Cagney - turns up and reforms the reform school in a real feel good story. Perhaps a little predictable and sometimes a little too sweet, but it doesn't sugarcoat the enter situation and gives us some raw parts too.