clearly pattern after the first gangster movie that warner produce the same year and little caesar ( 1931 ) and the public enemy ( 1931 ) and this gangster movie be one of the good effort i have see . although not quite in the same league a the previous mentioned classic and it have a powerful performance by young sylvia sidney . she magnificent and deliver her line more natural than perhaps anyone do at the time . gary cooper be good than usual at this stage in his career and show sign of what would follow the next few year when he rise to the top . the movie have some fascinating villain in paul lukas ( never see him this detestable ) and guy kibbee ( what a shock to see him act the hoodlum ) . the direction of rouben mamoulian be very inventive and probably the first voice over to show a person thought appear in this movie . if you get the chance to see this little gangster flick and do not let the chance go by .