Each Dawn I Die (1939)

72% of users liked it
(489 ratings)

Otis Ferguson has said of Each Dawn I Die that "the story is of the kind you would have to see to disbelieve." And to be sure, the film is nothing more than a sampler of '30s prison-film conventions. But with the brilliant acting by James Cagney and the fast-paced and hard-edged direction of William… More Otis Ferguson has said of Each Dawn I Die that "the story is of the kind you would have to see to disbelieve." And to be sure, the film is nothing more than a sampler of '30s prison-film conventions. But with the brilliant acting by James Cagney and the fast-paced and hard-edged direction of William Keighley, the film clatters past like an express train. Cagney plays Frank Ross, an innocent newspaperman who is railroaded into prison by a corrupt district attorney. In prison, he meets hardened-con Stacey (George Raft). Frank, at first, doesn't want to associate with Stacey and the other prisoners, but trapped in the hellhole prison, he more and more turns into a bitter con. Finally granted a hearing from the parole board, Frank pleads his innocence, but the parole board is headed by Grayce (Victor Jury), the man responsible for his imprisonment, and his parole is denied, and Frank becomes more hardened and embittered. By this point, Stacey has befriended him and agrees to help Frank prove his innocence. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: William Keighley
Written By: Warren Duff
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jul 22, 1939 Wide
On DVD: Mar 25, 2008

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An implausible but enjoyable routine crime drama featuring James Cagney and George Raft.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

If your a Cagney fan this is a must see, he's dynamic as ever. The script is just the standard Warners 30's prison pic but it's professionally done. Raft is stiff as ever and Jane Bryan overacts terribly but if you're a fan of the genre this is as good as any of… More
If your a Cagney fan this is a must see, he's dynamic as ever. The script is just the standard Warners 30's prison pic but it's professionally done. Raft is stiff as ever and Jane Bryan overacts terribly but if you're a fan of the genre this is as good as any of them.
Michael G

After watching Each Dawn I Die you're not really going to wonder why its not one of James Cagney's more well known movies but its well worth the watch. This time out Cagney plays a tough guy reporter who gets framed for murder while trying to expose a corrupt would be… More
After watching Each Dawn I Die you're not really going to wonder why its not one of James Cagney's more well known movies but its well worth the watch. This time out Cagney plays a tough guy reporter who gets framed for murder while trying to expose a corrupt would be politician. Inside he meets a career criminal who helps him clear his name. The first two acts are pretty solid but somewhere in the last act it kind of craps out. Its not exactly The Shawshank Redemption and its not quite Brute Force but for fans of Cagney and George Raft watching won't be wasted time.
Cindy I

Yet another great performance by James Cagney as a newspaper reporter who is set up by thugs and condemned to life in prison. George Raft plays a jailbird who claims to know how to help Cagney clear his name, if Cagney will help Raft escape from prison. Similar in tone and plot line… More
Yet another great performance by James Cagney as a newspaper reporter who is set up by thugs and condemned to life in prison. George Raft plays a jailbird who claims to know how to help Cagney clear his name, if Cagney will help Raft escape from prison. Similar in tone and plot line to Mayor of Hell (which I saw immediately before this). Which treatment is more appropriate for prisoners -- vengeance and punishment or understanding and reform?
Stella D

good gritty prison drama. cagney plays a reporter who goes in on a false charge and teams up with george raft to clear his name, ending, of course, in a full scale riot.
Brian R

James Cagney is great and so is George Raft. It's a standard prison picture with Cagney trying to reclaim his innocence. The last act of the picture is basically a prison riot cop out followed by a happy ending.

Cast

            James Cagney as Frank Ross

            George Raft as Hood Stacey

            Jane Bryan as Joyce Conover

            George Bancroft as Warden John Armstrong

            Victor Jory as W.J. Grayce

            Stanley Ridges as Mueller

            Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom as Fargo Red

            Alan Baxter as Pole Cat Carlisle

            John Wray as Pete Kassock

            Edward Pawley as Dale

            Willard Robertson as Lang

            Emma Dunn as Mrs. Ross

            Paul Hurst as Garsky

            Thurston Hall as District Attorney Jesse Hanley

            Clay Clement as Attorney Lockhart

            Charles Trowbridge as Judge

            Harry Cording as Temple

            Fern Barry as Accident Witness

            Granville Bates
            
            Nat Carr
            
            Eddy Chandler as Deputy

            John Conte as Narrator

            William B. Davidson as Bill Mason

            John Dilson as Parole Board Member

            Joseph Downing as Limpy Julien

            Earl Dwire as Judge Crowder

            James Flavin as Policeman

            Fred Graham as Guard in cell

            Mack Gray as Joe

            Chuck Hamilton as Court officer

            John Harron as Lew Keller Reporter

            Louis Jean Heydt as Joe Lassiter

            Al Hill as Johnny the Hood

            Max Hoffman Jr. as Gate guard

            Stuart Holmes as Accident witness

            Robert E. Homans as Mac the Guard

            Selmar Jackson as Patterson

            Vera Lewis as Jury woman

            Wilfred Lucas as Bailiff

            Frank Mayo as Telegraph Editor

            Walter Miller as Turnkey

            Wedgewood Nowell
            
            Henry Otho
            
            Bob Perry as Bud

            Lee Phelps
            
            Dick Rich
            
            John Ridgely as Jerry Poague Reporter

            Cliff Saum
            
            Elliott Sullivan as Convict

            Emmett Vogan as Prosecutor

            Tom Wilson
            
            Jack Wise
            
            Maris Wrixon as Girl in Car

            Abner Biberman as Shake Edwards

            Arthur Gardner as Men in Car

            Jack C. Smith as Guard

            Al Lloyd
            
            Napoleon Simpson as Mose

            Alice Connors
            
            Jack Goodrich
            
            Garland Smith
            
See full cast