''Picture Snatcher'' is a 1933 American

pre-code Pre-Code Hollywood was an era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry that occurred between the widespread adoption of sound in film in the late 1920s and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship gui ...

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

film starring

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor and dancer. On stage and in film, he was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He won acclaim and maj ...

as a gangster who decides to quit to pursue his dream.

Plot

After leaving prison, gang lord Danny Kean (James Cagney) shocks everyone by quitting crime. He wants his first stint in jail to be his last. So he hands his gang over to Jerry "the Mug" (

Ralf Harolde Ralf Harolde (born Ralph Harold Wigger, May 17, 1899 – November 11, 1974) was an American character actor who often played gangsters. Between 1920 and 1963, he appeared in 99 films, including ''Smart Money (1931 film), Smart Money'' with ...

). Having always dreamed of being a news reporter, Danny looks up Al McLean (

Ralph Bellamy Ralph Rexford Bellamy (June 17, 1904 – November 29, 1991) was an American actor whose career spanned 65 years on stage, film, and television. During his career, he played leading roles as well as supporting roles, garnering acclaim and award ...

), city editor of the sleazy ''Graphic News''. Al had offered him a job when he got out, but when Danny shows up, Al is reluctant. Just then, Al's boss, Grover (

Robert Barrat Robert Harriot Barrat (July 10, 1891 – January 7, 1970) was an American stage, motion picture, and television character actor. Early years Barratt was born on July 10, 1891 in New York City, and educated in the public schools there. He left ...

), laments that no one has a photograph of a city fireman, who's the latest hot news item. He has barricaded himself in the ruins of his own torched rooms after discovering the burnt remains of his wife and her lover. Danny thus volunteers to get the photo. He takes a cab to the unfortunate firefighter's digs where, posing as an insurance adjuster, he steals the fireman's wedding picture. As a result of this exclusive, Danny is made a staff photographer. When some journalism students tour the ''Graphic News'' (as an example of everything ''not'' to do), Danny is attracted to student Pat Nolan (

Patricia Ellis Patricia Ellis (born Patricia Gene O'Brien; May 20, 1918 – March 26, 1970) was an American film actress from 1932 to 1939, who then had a brief singing career until 1941. Early years Born in Birmingham, Michigan, in 1918 (although she gave he ...

). She begins to date him, much to the annoyance of "

sob sister Sob sister was an American term in the early 20th century for reporters (usually women) who specialized in newspaper articles (often called "sob stories") with emphasis on the human interest angle using language of sentimentality. The label was c ...

" reporter Allison (

Alice White Alice White (born Alva White; August 25, 1904Katz, Ephraim (1979). ''The Film Encyclopedia: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume''. Perigee Books. , pg. 1228. – February 19, 1983) was an American film ac ...

), who makes it clear she wants Danny too, though she's currently Al's girlfriend. A complication arises when Danny discovers that Pat's father, Casey Nolan (

Robert Emmett O'Connor Robert O'Connor, also known professionally as Robert Emmett O'Connor and Robert E. O'Connor (March 18, 1885 – September 4, 1962) was an Irish-American actor. He had a lengthy career as a stage actor on Broadway and in vaudeville from 190 ...

), is the police lieutenant who shot and arrested him. Naturally, Casey orders his daughter to quit Danny. However, Danny arranges for another newspaper to print a flattering story about him that gets him promoted captain. So Casey begins to change his mind about Danny. When a woman is scheduled to be executed at

Sing Sing Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a maximum-security prison for men operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in the village of Ossining (village), New York, Ossining, New York, United States. It is abou ...

, the ''Graphic News'' is the only paper not invited. But Danny, after some help from now-Captain Nolan, wangles his way into the execution room with other reporters to witness the electrocution. With a concealed camera strapped to his ankle, Danny snaps a photo of the woman in the

electric chair The electric chair is a specialized device used for capital punishment through electrocution. The condemned is strapped to a custom wooden chair and electrocuted via electrodes attached to the head and leg. Alfred P. Southwick, a Buffalo, New Yo ...

(echoing the real-life picture taken of murderer

Ruth Snyder May Ruth Snyder (née Brown; March 27, 1895 – January 12, 1928) was an American murderer. Her execution in the electric chair at New York (state), New York's Sing Sing Prison in 1928 for the murder of her husband, Albert Snyder, was recorded in ...

in 1928). But another reporter discovers the camera and informs the guards. A wild car chase ensues, but Danny delivers his prize to the ''Graphic News'' and is handsomely rewarded. The photograph is printed on the front page. However, Pat breaks up with him after her father is demoted as the result of Danny's ruse. Al arranges for Danny to hide from angry police at Allison's apartment, as she is due to be out of town. But she returns early and attempts a seduction of an uninterested Danny. At that moment, a drunken Al enters, and Danny loses a friend. He takes to drink to drown his sorrows. Al tracks him down and apologizes; he has found out about the unfaithful Allison. Al also says he has quit drinking (a habit that cost him jobs with respectable newspapers) and quit the ''News''. They then discover the leader of Danny's old gang, Jerry the Mug, has killed two policemen during a robbery. He is now the target of a manhunt. If Danny or Al can find Jerry, the scoop will get them jobs at any paper. Danny finally tracks down Jerry and feigns loyalty. The police soon locate Jerry's hideout, and a battle ensues, during which Danny snaps photos of Jerry as he's being machine-gunned. When the police break in, Danny claims he was working undercover for policeman Nolan, which earns him promotion back to captain. Danny and Pat are reunited, and the inside story is Danny and Al's passport to jobs on the ''Daily Record''.

Cast

Home media

''Picture Snatcher'' was released on DVD by Warner Bros. in 2008, which also featured an audio commentary.

References

External links

*
''Picture Snatcher'' at AllMovie
* * {{Lloyd Bacon 1933 films 1933 drama films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films Films about photojournalists Films directed by Lloyd Bacon Warner Bros. films American drama films 1930s American films