"CRIME SCHOOL”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 June 1939, Page 6

"CRIME SCHOOL”

“DEAD END” KIDS IN STIRRING TRUE-TO-LIFE STORY Aside from the fact that it is a stirring, true-to-life story with wide social implications, “Crime School,” the Warner Bros, picture which is coming to Nelson shortly, would be the sure-fire success it undoubtedly is for any one of three reasons. Probably most impressive of these reasons—in the opinion of the reviewer, at least—is the acting, as a group and_singly, of the six boys from New York who were so notable in both the stage and screen versions of "Dead End.” If there ever was any belief that their previous success was j merely a happy accident, it is certainly dissipated by their work in “Crime I School.” Every one of them—Billy Halop. Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hall. Leo Gorcey, Bernard Punsley and Gabriel Dell—proves again that he is a wonderful little character actor, with young Halop in this instance carrying off top honours, not necessarily because he is a better trouper than the others but because he was lucky enough to have the part with the best opportunities. Equally memorable as the work of the boys is the surprising sympathy and understanding extracted by Humphrey Bogart. who heads the adult ! members of the cast, from the first ; hero role he has ever had in motion pictures. And then there is Gale Page, who makes her motion picture I debut in this production. She’s a safe ! bet for stardom, this recruit from | radio, for she has real acting vitality jand a personality glowing with glamour. I The tale which gives them all so fine an I opportunity to display their talents was | written by Crane Wilbur, and it adj heres. for all the melodramatic excitement and humorous moments along I the way. to an important theme—the , ! eventual fate of juvenile delinquents j under contrasting systems of penology, that of the old, brutal, maladministered. j graft-ridden reformatory, and that of I the modern corrective institution. The • six "Dead Encf” boys are in this story I typical products of the slum streets j who are arrested for petty crimes.