this be the film that make james cagney a star . in a surprise move and warner brother make him switch role with edward wood and and the end be history . james cagney and who make a career out of play tough guy and appear a tom power and a young man who love the company of all the irish wise guy in his area . the film start with a message from the studio about one be go to witness a it want to point to a social problem and and it end with a sort of disclaimer about what be see a social issue at the core of the society of those year . tom power rise to the top of the crime scene when prohibition go into effect . there be a lot of money to be make smuggle liquor and have pal like paddy ryan and who control the trade . help by his inseparable matt doyle and they make their mark a people that could get away with what the crime they be commit . tom power inspire violence because he be ruthless in the way he want to do thing . the film and make before the arrival of the infamous hay code and get away with show the morality of the gangster on the scene and the woman they go after . tom relationship with kitty and and the cruelty he show toward her and be something that the creator get away with . tom involvement with gwen allen and the beautiful blonde and be full of sexual suggestion . william wellman and prove he be the right man for this movie . he bring the best in james cagney and the rest of the cast . unfortunately and the dialog sound dated . the heavy make up favor in those day look funny of the men and especially . mae clarke and who be not even credit in the film and have one of the best moment of her film career in the movie . james cagney and edward wood do some excellent work together . the sexy jean harlow be lovely to look at in this film a it bring her beauty to new height . donald cook and joan blondell and and the rest of the support cast contribute to make one of the best film of the gangster genre .