Angels Over Broadway

Thomas Mitchell was the highlight of this little gem. Rita Hayworth does well as the innocent girl who tries to act jaded. John Qualen & Douglas Fairbanks Jr. while not remarkable do a decent job and round out the main cast. However, once Mitchell leaves the film the whole thing kind of stalls out.

Starts out so gloomy hearted! Sets the tone right away. Not a big fan of the solution to their problem, but the rest was pretty great. The guys all deliver excellent performances as depressives, though I'm not so sure about Rita Hayworth this time around. Don't quite grasp the character. Was she supposed to be an innocent or a lady of the night? Seems to shift from side to side without purpose. Regardless another example of film making maturing with the changing times.

Little-watched and little-appreciated, this film deserves more attention. It boasts one of Ben Hecht's best screenplays, first-rate performances by Mtchell and Fairbanks (and excellent supporting work from everyone else), plus the invariably elegant photography of Lee Garmes, Sure, it's a little too talky, and Hecht isn't nearly as good a director as he is a screenwriter, but this film is the work of a genuine auteur and--even in its weakest moments--never ceases to be interesting.