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{{short description|1932 film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = The Beast of the City
| name = The Beast of the City
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| director = [[Charles Brabin]]
| director = [[Charles Brabin]]
| producer = [[Hunt Stromberg]]
| producer = [[Hunt Stromberg]]
| writer = [[W.R. Burnett]] ''(story)''<br />[[John Lee Mahin]]<br>[[Ben Hecht]] ''(uncredited)''
| writer = [[W.R. Burnett]] (story)<br />[[John Lee Mahin]]<br>[[Ben Hecht]] (uncredited)
| narrator =
| narrator =
| starring = [[Walter Huston]]<br />[[Jean Harlow]]<br>[[Wallace Ford]]<br>[[Jean Hersholt]]
| starring = [[Walter Huston]]<br />[[Jean Harlow]]<br>[[Wallace Ford]]<br>[[Jean Hersholt]]
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| cinematography = [[Norbert Brodine]]
| cinematography = [[Norbert Brodine]]
| editing = [[Anne Bauchens]]
| editing = [[Anne Bauchens]]
| studio = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
| distributor = [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
| distributor = [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
| released = {{Film date|1932|02|13}}
| released = {{Film date|1932|02|13}}
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==Cast==
==Cast==
[[File:The-Beast-of-the-City-LC-1.jpg|thumb|260px|Lobby card for ''The Beast of the City'' featuring [[Walter Huston]], [[Jean Harlow]] and [[Wallace Ford]]]]
[[File:The-Beast-of-the-City-LC-1.jpg|thumb|260px|Lobby card for ''The Beast of the City'' featuring [[Walter Huston]], [[Jean Harlow]] and [[Wallace Ford]]]]
{{castlist|
* [[Walter Huston]] as Captain Jim Fitzpatrick
* [[Walter Huston]] as Captain Jim Fitzpatrick
* [[Jean Harlow]] as Daisy Stevens / Mildred Beaumont
* [[Jean Harlow]] as Daisy Stevens/Mildred Beaumont
* [[Wallace Ford]] as Detective Ed Fitzpatrick
* [[Wallace Ford]] as Detective Ed Fitzpatrick
* [[Jean Hersholt]] as Samuel "Sam" Belmonte
* [[Jean Hersholt]] as Samuel "Sam" Belmonte
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* [[J. Carrol Naish]] as Pietro Cholo
* [[J. Carrol Naish]] as Pietro Cholo
* [[George Chandler]] as Reporter
* [[George Chandler]] as Reporter
* [[Robert Homans]] as Policeman (uncredited)
* [[Ethan Laidlaw]] as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
* [[Tom London]] as Policeman (uncredited)
* [[Morgan Wallace]] as Police Captain (uncredited)
* [[Leo White]] as Arrested Man (uncredited)
}}


⚫
[[Mickey Rooney]], in an uncredited appearance in his first MGM feature, played the son of Captain Jim Fitzpatrick ([[Walter Huston]]).<ref name=tcmarticle>Miller, Frank. [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/68263/Beast-of-the-City/articles.html ''The Beast of the City''], TCM.com; accessed July 24, 2015.</ref>
;Cast notes
⚫
*[[Mickey Rooney]], in an uncredited appearance, played the son of Captain Jim Fitzpatrick in his first MGM feature.<ref name=tcmarticle>Miller, Frank. [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/68263/Beast-of-the-City/articles.html ''The Beast of the City''], TCM.com; accessed July 24, 2015.</ref>


==Production==
==Production==
''The Beast of the City'' originated in consultations between MGM head of production [[Louis B. Mayer]] and President [[Herbert Hoover]], who was concerned that the public needed to have greater respect for police officers and other law-enforcement officials.<ref name=tcmnotes /> The original release included a prologue by Hoover, which was later edited out and then disappeared.<ref>Osborne, Robert. Outro to the [[Turner Classic Movies]] presentation of ''The Beast of the City''. (March 30, 2011)</ref> The film was produced under the working title "City Sentinels";<ref name=tcmnotes>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/68263/Beast-of-the-City/notes.html "Notes"] on [[TCM.com]]</ref> [[principal photography]] took place from 4 November to December 1931<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022660/business "Box office/Business"] on [[IMDb]]</ref> at MGM's studios in [[Culver City]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022660/locations "Filming locations"] on [[IMDb]]</ref>
''The Beast of the City'' originated in consultations between MGM head of production [[Louis B. Mayer]] and President [[Herbert Hoover]], who was concerned that the public needed to have greater respect for police officers and other law-enforcement officials.<ref name=tcmnotes /> The film opens with this text: "Instead of the glorification of cowardly gangsters, we need the glorification of policemen who do their duty and give their lives in public protection. If the police had the vigilant, universal backing of public opinion in their communities, if they had the implacable support of the prosecuting authorities and the courts—I am convinced that our police would stamp out the excessive crime—which has disgraced some of our great cities”— President Herbert Hoover.” The film was produced under the working title "City Sentinels";<ref name=tcmnotes>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/68263/Beast-of-the-City/notes.html "Notes"] on [[TCM.com]]</ref> [[principal photography]] took place from November 4 to December 1931<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022660/business "Box office/Business"] on [[IMDb]]</ref> at MGM's studios in [[Culver City]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022660/locations "Filming locations"] on [[IMDb]]</ref>


After the film was completed, Mayer decided that it was not quite right for MGM's image as the home of family entertainment, because it was too violent, despite its focus on law-and-order. Mayer ordered that it be exhibited as the bottom feature on double bills.<ref name=tcmarticle /> The film was Jean Harlow's opportunity to show MGM that she would cooperate with the studio, and she was rewarded with better roles which shortly would lead to stardom.<ref name=tcmarticle />
After the film was completed, Mayer decided that it was not quite right for MGM's image as the home of family entertainment, because it was too violent, despite its focus on law-and-order. Mayer ordered that it be exhibited as the bottom feature on double bills.<ref name=tcmarticle /> The film was Jean Harlow's opportunity to show MGM that she would cooperate with the studio, and she was rewarded with better roles which would shortly lead to stardom.<ref name=tcmarticle />


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{imdb title|0022660}}
* {{IMDb title|0022660}}
* {{tcmdb title|68263}}
* {{TCMDb title|68263}}
* {{amg title|84570}}
* {{AllMovie title|84570}}
* {{AFI film|id=7718|title=The Beast of the City}}
* {{AFI film|7718}}

{{Charles Brabin}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Beast of the City, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beast of the City, The}}
[[Category:1932 films]]
[[Category:1932 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1932 crime films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:American police detective films]]
⚫
[[Category:1930s crime films]]
⚫
[[Category:Police detective films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Charles Brabin]]
[[Category:Films directed by Charles Brabin]]
[[Category:Films made before the MPAA Production Code]]
[[Category:American gangster films]]
[[Category:American gangster films]]
[[Category:American vigilante films]]
[[Category:American vigilante films]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
⚫
[[Category:1930s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1930s American films]]
[[Category:English-language crime films]]

Latest revision as of 16:43, 8 November 2024

The Beast of the City
Promotional poster
Directed byCharles Brabin
Written byW.R. Burnett (story)
John Lee Mahin
Ben Hecht (uncredited)
Produced byHunt Stromberg
StarringWalter Huston
Jean Harlow
Wallace Ford
Jean Hersholt
CinematographyNorbert Brodine
Edited byAnne Bauchens
Production
company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • February 13, 1932 (1932-02-13)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$230,000 (est)
Box office$408,000 (USA)
$202,000 (worldwide exc. US)

The Beast of the City is a 1932 American pre-Code gangster film featuring cops as vigilantes and known for its singularly vicious ending. Written by W.R. Burnett, Ben Hecht (uncredited), and John Lee Mahin, and directed by Charles Brabin, the film stars Walter Huston, Jean Harlow, Wallace Ford, Jean Hersholt, and Tully Marshall.

Plot

[edit]

Police Captain Jim Fitzpatrick (Walter Huston) is a dedicated family man and crime fighter not averse to using violence to fight violence. Although he's been demoted for political reasons, public outcry forces the mayor to take more aggressive action against sleazy gang boss Sam Belmonte (Jean Hersholt), and Fitzpatrick is promoted to police chief. His younger brother, Police Detective Ed Fitzpatrick (Wallace Ford), allows himself to be seduced by a languorously sexy Belmonte gang moll (Jean Harlow) and needs money to continue the relationship. Frustrated when his principled brother will not promote him, he betrays Jim's trust by conspiring with Belmonte's henchmen in a truck hijacking that results in the deaths of a child and another police officer. After a crooked lawyer is able to get those guilty off on all charges, the relentlessly determined Chief turns to vigilantism to rid the city of its "Beasts."

Cast

[edit]
Lobby card for The Beast of the City featuring Walter Huston, Jean Harlow and Wallace Ford

Mickey Rooney, in an uncredited appearance in his first MGM feature, played the son of Captain Jim Fitzpatrick (Walter Huston).[1]

Production

[edit]

The Beast of the City originated in consultations between MGM head of production Louis B. Mayer and President Herbert Hoover, who was concerned that the public needed to have greater respect for police officers and other law-enforcement officials.[2] The film opens with this text: "Instead of the glorification of cowardly gangsters, we need the glorification of policemen who do their duty and give their lives in public protection. If the police had the vigilant, universal backing of public opinion in their communities, if they had the implacable support of the prosecuting authorities and the courts—I am convinced that our police would stamp out the excessive crime—which has disgraced some of our great cities”— President Herbert Hoover.” The film was produced under the working title "City Sentinels";[2] principal photography took place from November 4 to December 1931[3] at MGM's studios in Culver City.[4]

After the film was completed, Mayer decided that it was not quite right for MGM's image as the home of family entertainment, because it was too violent, despite its focus on law-and-order. Mayer ordered that it be exhibited as the bottom feature on double bills.[1] The film was Jean Harlow's opportunity to show MGM that she would cooperate with the studio, and she was rewarded with better roles which would shortly lead to stardom.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Miller, Frank. The Beast of the City, TCM.com; accessed July 24, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Notes" on TCM.com
  3. ^ "Box office/Business" on IMDb
  4. ^ "Filming locations" on IMDb
[edit]
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