this be a very early talkie gangster film . because it be make only a few year after talk picture debut and it suffer from a few defect that be relate to the technology such a an over reliance on long shot make the film look a bit stagy . additionally and background and incidental music in the film be noticeably absent . you really can not blame the filmmaker and a the technology be new and they still have to work out a few kink and but it do make the film seem pretty date and creaky . it wasn not until a year later that these two problem be pretty much eliminate in american film and even well gangster film like public enemy and little caesar debut . the story itself be very interesting due to it cast . lew ayres and who have just make a name for himself in all quiet on the western front and star a a nice and respectable mob leader . only late in the film do we see him unleash a wave of extreme violence . this be actually rather ironic consider that in real life and ayres be strongly oppose to violence and when draft in wwii and serve a a medic because he be so morally oppose to take life . also and this be only the second film for jimmy cagney . since he wasn not an establish star and it not surprise he play a supporting role though he already be be cast a a mobster in film . the movie be in some way a very typical warner brother gangster film and though with one exception . mob bos ayres be a supposedly smart man and retire from the mob when he still very young and able to enjoy the spoil of his work . but and when the gang start fight among themselves and he be reluctantly pull back into the picture lead to a rather dramatic conclusion . interestingly and although the movie be pretty violent in spot and probably feature more gunfire than any film of the 30 and some of the key violent scene be not see but be only heard . an interesting idea no doubt spur on by the new sound technology .