They Made Me a Criminal main backdrop
They Made Me a Criminal main poster

They Made Me a Criminal

Visit website

6.3/10 • 30

1939-01-211h 32m

CrimeDrama

YOU'D GIVE A DOG A BETTER CHANCE!

A boxer flees, believing he has committed a murder while he was drunk.

Directors
Busby Berkeley
Editors
Jack Killifer

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. John Garfield

    John Garfield

    Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney

  2. Claude Rains

    Claude Rains

    Det. Monty Phelan

  3. Ann Sheridan

    Ann Sheridan

    Goldie West

  4. May Robson

    May Robson

    Grandma Rafferty

  5. Gloria Dickson

    Gloria Dickson

    Peggy

  6. Billy Halop

    Billy Halop

    Tommy

  7. Bobby Jordan

    Bobby Jordan

    Angel

  8. Leo Gorcey

    Leo Gorcey

    Spit

  9. Huntz Hall

    Huntz Hall

    Dippy

Reviews1

View Reviews
CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 22, 2022

7/10

This is one of these films that you need to allow quite a bit of latitude, else you will rule it just too implausible and stop watching. John Garfield ("Johnnie") is a world champion boxer who finds himself embroiled in the death of a journalist. His problem is, he was totally sozzled after his victory so cannot recall what he did, or didn't, do - so absconds to a remote Arizona ranch where he helps the elderly May Robson who runs a refuge for wayward teenagers. That's where he meets, and falls for "Peggy" (Gloria Dickson) and settles down to a respectable life helping teach the boys how to focus their energies on boxing. Thing is, New York plod "Whelan" (Claude Rains) is on his case, and soon this newly found utopia is at risk... Garfield does a fitting job here, he is eminently plausible as the flawed prizefighter and his character's evolution as the story develops is engaging too. Rains features sparingly for much of the film, and I found his efforts a little disappointingly constrained when he did appear. The film really, for me anyway, belonged to the "Dead End Kids" - playing the best game of strip poker I think I've ever seen in a family movie. It's a bit too long, but has good pace, plenty of action, decent dialogue and the romance is kept to a minimum - well worth a watch.

Media

  • They Made Me a Criminal poster
  • They Made Me a Criminal poster
  • They Made Me a Criminal poster
  • They Made Me a Criminal poster
  • They Made Me a Criminal poster
  • They Made Me a Criminal poster

Recommendations

  • Castle Freak main backdrop

    Castle Freak

    6.2

  • No Backdrop

    Rhythm

    6.1

  • The Seven-Per-Cent Solution main backdrop

    The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

    6.2

  • No Backdrop

    Object: Alimony

    6.0

  • Taxi 3 main backdrop

    Taxi 3

    5.7

  • The Blue Lotus main backdrop

    The Blue Lotus

    6.6

  • Angelique and the Sultan main backdrop

    Angelique and the Sultan

    6.4

  • The Cave of the Golden Rose 4 main backdrop

    The Cave of the Golden Rose 4

    6.3

  • Box main backdrop

    Box

    6.2

  • No Backdrop

    Bird Thongchai Concert #1/1988 Kaolao ThongChai (Mai-Ngok)

    6.8

  • Amore 14 main backdrop

    Amore 14

    3.7

  • POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold main backdrop

    POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

    6.4

  • Mom's Christmas Boyfriend main backdrop

    Mom's Christmas Boyfriend

    6.2

  • Kim Possible: A Sitch In Time main backdrop

    Kim Possible: A Sitch In Time

    6.7

  • Young and Dangerous 4 main backdrop

    Young and Dangerous 4

    6.4

  • Main Atal Hoon main backdrop

    Main Atal Hoon

    5.7

  • Main Line to Terror main backdrop

    Main Line to Terror

    6.0

  • No Backdrop

    Box

    6.4

  • Olé main backdrop

    Olé

    4.1

  • Halloweentown High main backdrop

    Halloweentown High

    6.5

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
policesportsdetectivearizonaboxerranchreporterdead end kidsboxing