They Made Me a Criminal 1939
6.8 / 10
They Made Me a Criminal
A boxer flees, believing he has committed a murder while he was drunk.
A boxer flees, believing he has committed a murder while he was drunk.
Videos & Photos
All 0 Videos & 6 Photos
cast
Full Cast & Crew
... Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney
... Det. Monty Phelan
... Goldie West
... Grandma Rafferty
... Peggy
... Tommy
User reviews
See All 1 Reviews22 Jun 2022 by CinemaSerf
This is one of these films that you need to allow quite a bit of latitude, else you will rule it just too implausible and stop watching. John Garfield ("Johnnie") is a world champion boxer who finds himself embroiled in the death of a journalist. His problem is, he was totally sozzled after his victory so cannot recall what he did, or didn't, do - so absconds to a remote Arizona ranch where he helps the elderly May Robson who runs a refuge for wayward teenagers. That's where he meets, and falls for "Peggy" (Gloria Dickson) and settles down to a respectable life helping teach the boys how to focus their energies on boxing. Thing is, New York plod "Whelan" (Claude Rains) is on his case, and soon this newly found utopia is at risk... Garfield does a fitting job here, he is eminently plausible as the flawed prizefighter and his character's evolution as the story develops is engaging too. Rains features sparingly for much of the film, and I found his efforts a little disappointingly constrained when he did appear. The film really, for me anyway, belonged to the "Dead End Kids" - playing the best game of strip poker I think I've ever seen in a family movie. It's a bit too long, but has good pace, plenty of action, decent dialogue and the romance is kept to a minimum - well worth a watch.
Directors:
Release Date:
Jan 21, 1939 (United States)
Run Time:
1hr 32`
MMPA Rating:
NR
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United States
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:
Related Movies To
They Made Me a Criminal
This is one of these films that you need to allow quite a bit of latitude, else you will rule it just too implausible and stop watching. John Garfield ("Johnnie") is a world champion boxer who finds himself embroiled in the death of a journalist. His problem is, he was totally sozzled after his victory so cannot recall what he did, or didn't, do - so absconds to a remote Arizona ranch where he helps the elderly May Robson who runs a refuge for wayward teenagers. That's where he meets, and falls for "Peggy" (Gloria Dickson) and settles down to a respectable life helping teach the boys how to focus their energies on boxing. Thing is, New York plod "Whelan" (Claude Rains) is on his case, and soon this newly found utopia is at risk... Garfield does a fitting job here, he is eminently plausible as the flawed prizefighter and his character's evolution as the story develops is engaging too. Rains features sparingly for much of the film, and I found his efforts a little disappointingly constrained when he did appear. The film really, for me anyway, belonged to the "Dead End Kids" - playing the best game of strip poker I think I've ever seen in a family movie. It's a bit too long, but has good pace, plenty of action, decent dialogue and the romance is kept to a minimum - well worth a watch.
Cast & Crew of
They Made Me a Criminal
Directors & Credit Writers
... Director
Cast
... Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney
... Det. Monty Phelan
... Goldie West
... Grandma Rafferty
... Peggy
... Tommy
... Angel
... Spit
... Dippy
... T.B.
... Milt
... Doc Ward (Johnnie's Manager)
... Charles 'Charlie' Magee (Reporter)
... Budgie Massey
... Ennis
... Lenihan
... Malvin
... Randy Smith
FR
Frank Riggi... Gaspar Rutchek
... Manager
Produced By
... Executive Producer
... Associate Producer
... Production Manager
Videos & Photos of
They Made Me a Criminal
Photos ( 6 )
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They Made Me a Criminal
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