Avidez De Tragedia (The Crowd Roars) (1932) (Import)

This movie describes very well the dangers inside the racing cars competitions. But this film could be still a big hit inside the movie history if it could be published with the two other original versions, one in french with Jean Gabin replacing James Cagney, and a third one in german. This could give us a better point of view how a common subject is translated in three different languages and sensibilities.

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Always loved old movies!

Cinema legend James Cagney could always be depended upon to deliver an energetic performance, and in THE CROWD ROARS (Warner Bros. 1932), the dynamic actor turns in one of his best from Hollywood's fabulous pre-Code era.Cagney plays a racing champ who tries to prevent his kid brother (Eric Linden) from entering the racing profession, and also wants him to break off his romance with a girl (Joan Blondell) whom Cagney considers is a goldigger. Things come to blows when Cagney's gal (Ann Dvorak) becomes fed up with his controlling nature and calls it quits, which drives Cagney to drink, resulting in tragedy on the track when he becomes responsible for the death of his best friend and fellow racer (Frank McHugh).THE CROWD ROARS was directed by the great Howard Hawks who was a racing aficionado himself and was therefore able to infuse the production with a gritty authenticity that really comes across well. The realism is especially achieved by the location photography at the Ventura Raceway and the Indianapolis and Ascot speedways. In addition, several racing pros from the era appear as themselves, including Billy Arnold, Fred Frame, "Shorty" Cantlon and "Stubby" Stubblefield.The thrilling action sequences on the track are well balanced by the sharply defined performances of the fine cast, chiefly Cagney, who commands our attention every time he's onscreen. His totally natural style and kinetic personality fit perfectly into each role he plays, regardless how diverse, and in THE CROWD ROARS we see Cagney's cocky racing driver go from fame to shame as the result of a guilty conscience over the death of his pal. A moving scene occurs later in the film where Cagney, now reduced to hopping freight cars and hanging around racetracks, is reunited with his sweetheart who's working as a hashslinger at one of the tracks. It's a touching scene, underplayed by Cagney and Dvorak, which then takes quite an emotional turn when Cagney suddenly breaks down, sobbing in Dvorak's arms. It's to the credit of everyone involved that they were able to deliver a good, well acted story punctuated by terrific racing action all within a tight running time of 70 minutes.Warner's Archive Collection offers a very nice transfer of THE CROWD ROARS, which also includes the original theatrical trailer. This is prime Cagney at high-speed octane, and is highly recommended.

THANKS TO RAEREWAVES-US FOR FINDING THIS MOVIE FOR ME. THIS MOVIE WAS WAY AHEAD OF ITS TIME AS THE CRASH SCENES ARE THE REAL THING! THIS IS WELL DONE FOR THAT ERA. GET IT BEFORE THEY ARE ALL GONE.

Boxing doesn't appeal to me, either for real or on screen so Iapproached "The Crowd Roars" with some trepidation. However, boxing isonly the excuse for a film on the Depression, on corruption, on povertyand crime. Robert Taylor is superb as Tommy "Killer" McCoy, a young manwho enters the ring strictly for the money. He has had the wolf at thedoor and doesn't want to see it again. His distaste for being a "pug"and his longing for respectability come into play as he meets MaureenO'Sullivan and gets a glimpse of how "the other half" lives. The fightscenes are exciting and vivid but not glamorized. A scene in the gymintroduces a cast of brain-damaged pugs as Taylor prepares for hisfirst big fight. The cinematography is excellent as is the lighting.There are no bad performances. Frank Morgan is the drunken father,Maureen O'Sullivan is the love interest, Edward Arnold the gangster,Lionel Stander the trainer. Jane Wyman has a small but pivotal role as asouthern airhead. Highly recommended.

This was the first of several versions of the story line, and is I interesting in the historical context it represents in that respect. The characters were cleaned up and made more sophisticated in the later version, and there is where the focus of my fascination resides. Of course, the scenes involving the Miller and Dusenberg racing machines brought me to these films in the first place.