A G-man goes undercover to infiltrate a gang, helping the group's leader escape from prison to gain his trust.A G-man goes undercover to infiltrate a gang, helping the group's leader escape from prison to gain his trust.A G-man goes undercover to infiltrate a gang, helping the group's leader escape from prison to gain his trust.
William Bailey
- Federal Agent
- (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict
- Bar Patron
- (uncredited)
Ed Brady
- Convict in Prison
- (uncredited)
Frank Bruno
- Extra Leaving Theater
- (uncredited)
Lane Chandler
- Train Conductor
- (uncredited)
Cora Sue Collins
- Little Girl
- (uncredited)
Helene Costello
- Convict Wife
- (uncredited)
Nell Craig
- Duff's Secretary with Telegram
- (uncredited)
Frank Darien
- Dr. Hale - Plastic Surgeon
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaContractual requirements were the reason why the name of Lionel Barrymore, who was definitely a secondary and supporting player, as far as the story was concerned, received first billing, and Jean Arthur, the leading lady, but in no way the principal participant, received second billing, while Chester Morris, around whom the entire story revolved, and who was in practically every scene of any consequence, was relegated to third position.
- GoofsDuring the big shoot out, the window frame that "Sonny" peeks out of goes from damaged to undamaged to being damaged again.
- Quotes
Prison Warden: Crane, you were convicted of a hold up.
Jeff Crane: Sure! I stuck up a beer joint and got twelve bucks. Now, I'm buried alive for ten years. Ten years off my life for twelve dirty bucks! Is that fair?
Prison Warden: Yes. If your gun hadn't jammed you'd a killed a man for twelve dirty bucks. Was that fair?
- ConnectionsFeatures The Big House (1930)
Featured review
The gang's all here
"Public Hero #1" is a relatively little known, continually entertaining gangster thriller that veers from prison mellerdrama to quirky romance to bullet-riddled shoot-out. Okay, so the plot has enough holes to drive a getaway car through -- like the unexpected "meet cute' encounter, during a flash flood, of a government agent disguised as a hold-up man with the sister of the crime czar he's tracking. But Chester Morris as the plucky, love-stricken fed, Jean Arthur who still loves her brother despite his homicidal tendencies, Lionel Barrymore as a boozy doctor and Joseph Calleia as the underworld kingpin who doesn't seem bright enough to rob a candy store are all fun to watch. And darn near believable. At no point, as the tale gallops through various genres, does it bog down. Wish the same could be said of quite a few more modern movies. Credit director J. Walter Ruben with doing a first-rate job on one of the final films he would helm prior to his premature death at the age of 43.
helpful•60
- MikeMagi
- Jan 20, 2014
Details
- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content