Warner Bros. Pictures
Not part of a collection.
City for Conquest
A story with all the fire and fury of its two great stars!
The heartbreaking but hopeful tale of Danny Kenny and Peggy Nash, two sweethearts who meet and struggle through their impoverished lives in New York City. When Peggy, hoping for something better in life for both of them, breaks off her engagement to Danny, he sets out to be a championship boxer, while she becomes a dancer paired with a sleazy partner. Will tragedy reunite the former lovers?
- Original title
- City for Conquest
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
John Chard
Mar 1, 2020 · via TMDB
Powerhouse Cagney in melodramatic heart-tugger. If taken purely on script alone the film only amounts up to the usual fare we have seen a zillion times over the years. The basic formula being that two brothers are taking different paths in career choices and the elder brother is doing all he can to help realise his younger brother's dream of being a composer, yet thankfully here the film has a great deal more to offer outside of the usual standard fare. The elder brother boxes to support his young bro's dream but he's tragically almost blinded in a gruelling 15 round fight where foul cheat tactics are used against him. The film then follows the love interest slant of the family & girlfriend closest to our stricken boxer, where thankfully the film manages to stay clear of drowning in a bowl of sickly syrup. Playing out with a very deep emotional heart the film functions so well because of the lead actor. James Cagney was 42 when he made this film, yet he looks like a lithe athletic man in his twenties, such was his commitment to the role. He imbues such gusto into the role of Danny Kenny that he alone demands you watch this film. Cagney is also staunchly supported by Ann Sheridan, Arthur Kennedy, and by a very brash turn from Anthony Quinn. It's a film that tugs on your heart strings at times, and yes it has the audience begging for an uplift in the final reel, but it's done well and delivers all that you had hoped for at the start of the film. The back story doesn't read so well though, Cagney & director Anatole Litvak were continually at war during filming, and most of Cagney's input into the film was cut out. Cagney was so annoyed and sad with the final outcome, he wrote to Aben Kandel (the writer of the novel the film is adapted from) and apologised with sincerity, he need not of worried though for the final result is a very rewarding experience indeed. 8/10
talisencrw
Apr 13, 2016 · via TMDB
I'm unashamedly a James Cagney enthusiast--in fact, he's my very favourite actor (like me, he's at least part-Irish, and he's more versatile than Orson Welles), so yes, I tend to be overly generous when I'm watching his films. But I really enjoyed this gangster/boxing hybrid film from the early 40's that, not only sported great acting by Cagney but also had wonderful performances by Ann Sheridan (I'm rather fond of redheads too), Anthony Quinn and a rare acting role for top-notch director Elia Kazan. Yes, it was melodramatic, a tearjerker and overly predictable--people talk about those qualities as if they were bad things. Also being an aficionado of many types of music, particularly jazz and classical, I found it highly compelling of the filmmakers to utilize music as a way of communicating the inexpressible (the trials and tribulations, dreams and pitfalls). Highly recommended for anyone who likes seeing filmmakers think outside of the box for once, and dare to try something different. Especially if you love Cagney and classic cinema as much as I do, I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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James Cagney
Danny Kenny
Ann Sheridan
Peggy Nash
Frank Craven
'Old Timer'
Donald Crisp
Scotty MacPherson
Frank McHugh
'Mutt'
Arthur Kennedy
Eddie Kenny
George Tobias
'Pinky'
Jerome Cowan
'Dutch'
Elia Kazan
'Googi'
Anthony Quinn
Murray Burns
Lee Patrick
Gladys
Blanche Yurka
Mrs. Nash
George Lloyd
'Goldie'
Joyce Compton
Lilly
Thurston Hall
Max Leonard
Ben Welden
Cobb
John Arledge
Salesman
Edward Keane
Gaul
Selmer Jackson
Doctor
Joseph Crehan
Doctor
Murray Alper
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Ward Bond
First Policeman (uncredited)
Wade Boteler
New York Policeman (uncredited)
Steve Carruthers
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson
Doorman (uncredited)
John Dilson
Mr. Cahn - Man Buying Newspaper (uncredited)
Jimmy Dime
Gym Rat (uncredited)
Warren Douglas
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Jay Eaton
Party Guest (uncredited)
Frank Faylen
Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty
Dance Floor Guard (uncredited)
Edward Gargan
Joe - Foreman (uncredited)
David Gorcey
Ticket Taker (uncredited)
Kit Guard
Mickey Miller (uncredited)
Margaret Hayes
Sally - Irene's Friend (uncredited)
Sam Hayes
Sam Hayes - Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Arthur Housman
Radio Listener (uncredited)
George Humbert
Organ Grinder's Shill (uncredited)
Thomas E. Jackson
Pep - Sportswriter (uncredited)
Colin Kenny
Al's Pal (uncredited)
Victor Kilian
Bill Poster (uncredited)
Mike Lally
Fight Ringsider / Party Guest (uncredited)
Charles Lane
Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)
Ethelreda Leopold
Irene - Dressing Room Blonde (uncredited)
Carl M. Leviness
Champion Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Michael Mark
Tonbstone Painter (uncredited)
William Marshall
Man in Peggy's Dressing Room (uncredited)
Eric Mayne
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
Sidney Miller
Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited)
Jack Mower
Man Next to MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
William Newell
Max's Lyricist (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien
Waiter (uncredited)
George O'Hanlon
Newsboy (uncredited)
Garry Owen
Reporter (uncredited)
Paul Panzer
Dance Contest Observer (uncredited)
Sally Payne
Singer (uncredited)
Jack Perry
Wales' Handler (uncredited)
Lee Phelps
Ring Announcer (uncredited)
William Phillips
Sailor - Sparring Partner (uncredited)
Scott Seaton
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
John Sheehan
Man Yelling at Ringside (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock
Dance Judge (uncredited)
Buster Slaven
Sidney - Pupil (uncredited)
Stephen Soldi
Organ Grinder (uncredited)
Bob Steele
Kid Callahan (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Party Guest (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan
Dance Floor Guard #2 (uncredited)
Elliott Sullivan
Photographer (uncredited)
Frank Sully
Radio Listener (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel
Championship Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Billy Wayne
Happy - Googi's Henchman (uncredited)
Dick Wessel
Cab Driver by Fire (uncredited)
Leo White
Dance Contest Observer (uncredited)
Frank Wilcox
Party Guest (uncredited)
Charles Cahill Wilson
Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
Tom Wilson
Man on Fire Escape (uncredited)
James Wong Howe
Director of Photography
Byron Haskin
Special Effects
Harvey Parry
Stunts
Anatole Litvak
Director
Jean Negulesco
Director
Hal B. Wallis
Executive Producer
Anatole Litvak
Producer
William Cagney
Producer
Jack L. Warner
Production Manager
Max Steiner
Original Music Composer
Singin' in the Rain
Dog Day Afternoon
Rosemary's Baby
Do the Right Thing
Annie Hall
The Hustler
Sweet Smell of Success
Cinderella Man
Carol
The French Connection
The Docks of New York
The Life and Loves of Beethoven
Sleepless in Seattle
The Killer
Jawbone
The Jazz Singer
Dancing on Glass
Sliver
Nozomi Witches
Second Egyptian
The Red Shoes
I Still Believe
An Affair to Remember
High Strung Free Dance
A Place in the Sun
The Secret: Dare to Dream
West Side Story
The Clock
Flamingo Road
Step Up
Rent
Step Up All In
Two for the Seesaw
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her
Blood and Sand
StreetDance 3D
Fallen Angel
The Greatest Show on Earth
Honey
StreetDance 2
Sep 19, 1940
Cincinnati, Ohio
Sep 21, 1940
