Angels Over Broadway
- Douglas Fairbanks Jr.: Bill O'Brien
- Rita Hayworth: Nina Barona
- Thomas Mitchell: Gene Gibbons
- George Watts: Joseph Hopper
- Ralph Theodore: Dutch Enright
- Eddie Foster: Louie Artino
- Jack Roper: Eddie Burns
- Constance Worth: Sylvia Marbe
Angels Over Broadway is an American film drama starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Rita Hayworth from the year 1940.
Action
On a rainy evening trying Schlitzohr Bill O'Brien in a nightclub in New York's Broadway to find a naive person he can shamelessly taken to the cleaners. His choice falls on Charles Engle, whom he considers a rich businessman from the suburbs. But Engle is merely an employee who has recently misappropriated $ 3,000 of its operation for private purposes. From his quandary he sees no other way than to take their own lives in the course of the evening. Even the rather simple-minded showgirl Nina Barona holds Engle for a man that he is not, that is for the owner of the premises. In this belief she sits down to Engle, hoping he could offer her a job as a dancer. Bill, in turn, does not let himself irritate and biases the pretty Nina and for his own purposes. With their help he attempts to unsuspecting Engle to a poker game in a secluded hotel with the gangster Dutch Enright to persuade.
Meanwhile occurs also the animating playwright Gene Gibbons in Engles life. About to leave the nightclub, the handed to him in the dressing room instead of your own jacket by mistake by Engle, he discovered in his pocket a farewell letter. Gibbons, although plagued by melancholy itself, is determined to help the suicidal man. When he both learns the reason for Engles grief as well Bill's true intentions, he has an idea: to make you lose instead Engle poker players Bill should ensure that Engle gets out in time after the games initially obtained and can sneak away with the money. Bill agrees on the condition that he should receive a share of the profits.
Soon after making the four on the way to the hotel where Gibbons explains the operation of the plan to the smallest detail Bill, Nina and Engle. However, before he can finish his remarks, overcomes him the alcohol and their own fatigue. When he wakes up, he has forgotten the events of the evening, but it seems to him his own life, as clear as long since ceased. Repentant and determined he leaves the hotel in order to reconcile with his ex-wife. Now that the game of poker is finally to begin, Bill, Nina and Engle are on their own. First, the plan seems to be working. As expected, let Dutch Enright and his men Engle win the first rounds to then abzuknöpfen him much higher stakes. But before Engle can retire, get the greasy Enright wind of Engles projects. When the situation threatens to escalate, Nina appeals to Bill's conscience. Then Bill starts a brawl with Enright men, so that Engle with the money can get to safety. Now this can pay its debts in the company and embark with renewed courage of his life. Bill and Nina, however, become aware of their feelings for each other consciously and fall happily into his arms.
Background
Angels Over Broadway, also known as Before I Die, was one of the few directorial work of the successful screenwriter Ben Hecht, who also delivered the dialogue- rich script and received an Oscar nomination. At the same time he stepped up to his lead actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as a producer in appearance. As later RKO Orson Welles in his celebrated work Citizen Kane ( 1941) had a free hand, Ben Hecht was allowed at Angels Over Broadway his artistic ideas meet without Columbia Pictures radioed him in between.
Of the critics, although highly praised, but almost prophetic as " ahead of its time " rated, Angels Over Broadway was a flop at the U.S. box office after the film was first released on 2 October 1940.
Reviews
Said Otis Ferguson of The New Republic that the viewer " a lot of fun on this film have " will, " because the dialogue intelligent and the various entanglements well knit " are. The game of poker was in the process " a completely high-class movie ." Among the performers steal Thomas Mitchell " as a former genius and clumsy fairy godmother " all other the show. The Hollywood Reporter described the film at the time as " a highly addictive in a strange kind of drama in the glow and shadow of nightly Broadway ". Shaped by a " brilliant interpretation of a brilliant screenplay " but Angels Over Broadway was " so far from the tastes of the masses away that it does not fit any single Hollywood drawer". Thomas Mitchell deliver " a fantastic idea " and " an unforgettable portrait", the call after Oscar. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. show " probably the best performance of his career," John Qualen was again "excellent as suicide Endangered ". Also, Rita Hayworth was " excellent in so far demanding role ." All in all, handle it is " a unique work that deserves a big audience." However, the success was " doubtful " at the box office.
According to Bosley Crowther of the New York Times have Lee Garmes " the mood of the story, with its marked by light and shadow camera work perfectly captured ". The cast was directed by Ben Hecht " tremendously effective down to the smallest role ." Thomas Mitchell was " nothing but whiteness" in the role of a writer, "the God plays ". Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was " dynamic and truly amazing as contradictory young man" who was initially only on money. Rita Hayworth and John Qualen turn " both sensitive to the demands of the script justice " have become. To praise is beyond Ben Hecht as " refined doer" of the film.
Awards
At the Academy Awards in 1941 Ben Hecht was nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in the category. However, he was beaten Preston Sturges, who received the trophy for The Great McGinty.