two boyhood friend ( one play by a very young mickey rooney ) grow up on opposite side of the law . clark gable become a criminal william powell become governor . myrna loy love both . this plot be now screamingly familar but and back in 1934 and this be original . in fact it win the best original story oscar for it year . this could have be a real howler but a great cast and tight script and wonderful direction really put it over . well worth catch especially for a powerful climatic scene between powell and gable . a classic of it type .