even if the movie have many problem it manage to deliver a coherent and quite interesting plot in one and a haalf hour of witty and sometimes funny line . the problem be common for most of the period of the early talkie when actor do not really know that the exaggerated expression of the silent era be no longer need . the acting style in most of the movie can become really annoying and but the memorable one liner ( most of them make famous by a long tradition of gangster film and by cartoon parody ) keep the whole think from sink too low . the character that bring the most sparkle be definitely cagney and though it take me some time to accommodate myself to him . at first it all seem quite fake ( his accent and behavior etc . ) but eventually i get hook on his charismatic character . his moralize brother be really annoying and over the top acting and and ma power wasn not much help . the woman be quite bad . jean harlow have a very small part and actually and and she look very unattractive too . i have no idea if she suppose to be some celebrity of the time and but couple with cagney she be really awful . most of the gangster character and even if they remind a contemporary viewer of comic book work quite o. k and it be a surprise to see that today movie do not manage to stray too much from the original recipe . give me this movie instead of the departed nay day and i admire it effectiveness in make it point without the use of gore and warlike violence and foul language and even if the message be somewhat preachy .