spoiler ahead for the first ten minute or so of star witness be introduce to a quote typical urban american family unquote in a nameless city and which be another way of say warner brother version of nyc . except for the young child and include the charming dickie moore and and sprightly sally blane and theyre a pretty dreary lot and and their dinner table conversation be tedious and we wish the story would move along and bring in the star and walter huston . but wait and folk and wait . all of a sudden serious gangster movie action break out and draw the family in against their will and and after that this baby never let up . there suspense and an oscar nominate script and good act while everything you want old movie to beit be here . i do question chic sale performance while he must be an acquire taste and but his presence turn out to be crucial to the plot . he treat to special status in the credit and so warner bros. must have really be high on sale and but how his corny old man routine fit in with the public then be something lose to me . perhaps it be lose to time period and an unknowable factor you have to be a 1931 moviegoer to understand . also and the climax be typically melodramatic . nevertheless and this right now be the best release of the studio that year i have see so far ( however and i have only see eight and so perhaps that an inconclusive view ) . do not miss this when tcm show it . positive .