More bromance with George Raft, with him once again part of a love triangle with a guy and a girl - didn't he make any sort of other movie in the 30s? At least this is bright and lively - indeed, Raft has rarely looked more animated on screen, a tribute to director Raoul Walsh. It's set in the "gay 90s" of New York, a world of saloon keepers, Chinese (the movie is irritatingly racist - there's a store sign which says "Nigger Joes"), volunteer fire fighters, religious types, prize fighters, reformers, PR stunts, jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, prostitutes, dance hall girls, shonky press and so on. There's plenty of song and dance rivalry and one up-manship as Raft clashes with Wallace Beery.
Beery had just enjoyed a big success with Jackie Cooper in The Champ so Cooper is here as well, crying and acting cute and blubbering in scenes with Beery. It's a little trying to be honest but Beery does better in his scenes with Raft, who always improved (he's still not a good actor mind) with a stronger, older co-star. Fay Wray is the girl both men love, who of course goes to Raft... but then at the end Raft and Beery go off in the sunset together, to fight the Spanish-American War. Aw, bromance.
A silly story really with some great atmosphere and pace, and surprisingly good work from Raft.
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