leonard maltin be way off base on this one . he give it one and a half star and call it an antique early talkie with a miscast lew ayres . yes and it an early talkie but it a good one a good if not good than smart money and on it way to be public enemy just a year later . the story ( the usual crime do not pay moral with some twist ) be a good one and strong on character and deserve it oscar nomination . lew ayres give what i consider to be his best screen performance and a a young and intelligent crime bos . cagney and sixth bill and be his henchman and here impress no end he be completely at home in the talkie medium with a performance full of nuance and naturalism . no wonder he head right to the top . louie ricarno ( ayres ) organize the various hood in his city into a conglomerate to protect each others interest and eliminate gang war and which profit no one . once he have achieve this he retire to marry and raise his kid brother and currently in a military academy . one hitch here be that the woman he marry be also sweet on his henchman and steve mileaway ( cagney ) and the feeling be return . all go well until the mob start to break apart and try to lure louie back to the city by attempt to kidnap his young brother . the kidnap attempt go awry and the boy be kill . louie and now harden more than ever and return to the city and swear vengeance . i would not reveal the rest of the plot and but it be well act and well characterize . true and the direction be sluggish and the other actor be not up to the professionalism of ayres and cagney and but it must take it place with the other early crime melodrama ( five star final and little caesar and public enemy and g men ) a be top of the line .