There is just something I like about old black & white crime dramas, especially when they are good. BEAST OF THE CITY is very good and has all the elements you look for plus an outstanding gun battle for a finale. Captain Jim Fitzpatrick(Walter Huston)heads crime investigations and sometimes appears to be a one man fighter against organized crime. Fitzpatrick arrests a well-known mobster Sam Belmonte(Jean Hersholt)at his night club for the murder of four gangsters. The charges as usual don't stick; thus keeping the captain constantly at odds with his chief(Emmett Corrigan). Jim is transfered to a quiet precinct; but he is still determined to get the goods to put Belmonte away for good. Jim has his brother Ed(Wallace Ford),also on the force, to pump the crime boss' stenographer Daisy(Jean Harlow)for some damaging information. Ed falls for the platinum blonde and soon appears to being swayed to the dark side. Organized crime has to be slowed down; Jim Fitzpatrick will turn vigilante gathering a few of the believers he still has in the department and has brother Ed set up a showdown with Belmonte in his night club. I was hoping that Harlow had more screen time. Other players in this crime drama: Tully Marshall, John Miljan, Dorothy Peterson, Sandy Roth and J. Carroll Naish.
Review of The Beast of the City
