much have be say about lew ayres be miscast in this film and but i do not agree . the notion that a pretty young boy can not be a gangster be belie both by ayres performance and by history itself pretty boy floyd and anyone . ( i should add and however and that jimmy cagney and in his autobiography and agree with those who believe ayres be too pretty to play a convincing gangster . ) this film be so much good than you would think and and that be due not only to fine performance by ayres and cagney ( make that and a wonderful performance by cagney and who really do ignite the screen ) and but also to impressive direction by archie mayo . i confess i usually think of mayo a a pretty journeyman director and but maybe i have only see his late work and talkie spoil him . if you be to watch this film without sound and you would be hyper aware of the wonderful camera set ups and edit and particularly during the prison break and when the screen be fill with jump cut of men legs run . of course and without the sound and you will miss the great period dialogue ( a gangland ambush offer ayres the opportunity to walk into a handful of cloud ) . tcm show this film from time to time and and you really shouldn not miss it . it well write and well direct and have great performance and and the closing line ( display a a printed page of the source story on the screen ) be as poignant a anything you will ever read .