Angels with Dirty Faces is a 1938 film which tells the story of two boys, growing up in the slums of New York City, who take different paths -- one becomes a gangster, one a priest. When they meet again as adults, the priest must keep his former friend from corrupting the boys that the priest is trying to keep from a life of crime. It stars James Cagney, Pat O'Brien , Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, George Bancroft, Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey , Gabriel Dell , Huntz Hall and Bernard Punsly . (See Dead End.)
The movie was written by Rowland Brown (story), John Wexley , Warren Duff , Ben Hecht (uncredited) and Charles MacArthur (uncredited). It was directed by Michael Curtiz.
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (James Cagney), Best Director and Best Writing, Original Story.
A spoof of the movie appears in Home Alone and Home Alone 2 as Angels with Dirty Souls. In the parody, Gangster Johnny fires a lengthy machine gun salvo before remarking, "Keep the change, ya filthy animal."
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