Protraph Lack of good storyline.

ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

marktayloruk I doubt if there's any jail on earth where the grasses operate openly. It's a pity that we didn't know what Stacey was in four-murder,at a guess? In reply to another poster-the reason why bastards like Pete Kassock didn't get what was coming to them was that, in this state, the penalty for that or escaping was life in the hole-handcuffed to the bars for eight hours a day,living on bread and water. Nobody should be treated like that! I hope Ross followed his release by exposing prison conditions and getting things improved. Yes,I was on the cons' side in the riot.

Richie-67-485852 This was as good as it gets for entertainment then and even now. James Cagney playing a gangster is like leaves on a tree. Add George Raft, some good supporting players, a Director that enjoys his work and a reasonable story and you had a pleasurable night out back then at the movies. Cagney has mannerisms that tend to be unforgettable and the camera loved him and if you catch him in some re-takes (bloopers), he loved what he did too. Take a look at the cars, stores, the way people dressed and talked (snappy and curt) and you will visit with that era. Prison back then was more of a be a good boy or else and they want you to believe that all you lose is your freedom but it ain't so bad because you got all these pals. The prison yard is where you can do what you want within reason and it is a sort of living newspaper of current events of watching and being watched. Today, conduct like that in todays prison would get you killed. Here, it is like a warning. There is a frame-up scene (in the beginning) that is very accurate and has been used to discredit many a person using the tactic clearly demonstrated. You can substitute drugs or sex for the alcohol and the frame still holds well. Its called blackmail. This movie calls for snacking and a tasty drink and leaving you wanting to see more of both stars no problem. Enjoy ya mug

Theo Robertson EACH DAWN I DIE isn't a bad melodrama but neither is it a great one . The premise is sound , a crusading investigative journalist called Frank Ross is framed by bad guys and faces years in prison which sets up an involving story . Unfortunately the logic of the plot turns are never as strong as they should be and they become noticeable as weak plot turns . Of course it was made in 1939 meaning the fear of anal gang rape doesn't exist for film characters but there's niggling doubts that stop the film being as involving as it should and the melodrama and clichés do become melodrama and clichés One problem is that the most hated character is Limpy , a stool pigeon who nonchalantly informs upon everyone up to no good . He does this in a brazen way in full view of other prisoners which in reality would lead to the other prisoners killing him first chance they got . He's only been there a month before Frank is sentenced but even so you'd think someone would have bumped him off sooner . It's due to plot mechanics that he has to die after Frank enters jail , ie Hood Stacey wants Frank to claim that he was responsible so Stacey can break out of custody during the murder trial and Stacey promises to find out who framed Frank in return . There's no real reason for Frank to point the finger , it could be any prisoner and one can't help thinking Stacey would have more dependable associates who he could trust . In turn Frank is guilty of total naivety for thinking Stacey will keep his word . He's also putting his head on the block since he's helping a fugitive to escape . Wouldn't he be better off trusting his fellow crusaders at the newspaper than relying on the word of a convict ? Having said that if someone did something logical then there wouldn't have been so much incident . Just a pity the screenwriter didn't think things through a little more Frank Ross is played by James Cagney , who is the personification of someone who is a film star but not a good actor . This isn't really a criticism because he has a strong presence and good to watch even though his mannerisms are very exaggerated . Dare I say he was a star because of this rather in spite of this ? George Raft as Stacey also has a presence though thankfully it's less exaggerated than Cagney . Director William Keighley does manage a very memorable montage sequence where Stacey does time in the hole but he's not really on the same artistic level as Michael Curtiz and where ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES grabs you on an emotional level that makes you forget all the flaws of that film Keighley unfortunately doesn't which is something of a pity . It's not a bad film but not a particularly good one either

mrbill-23 Folks, It doesn't get much better than "Each Dawn I Die" with James Cagney and George Raft... This is one of my top-5 all-time gangster / prison films from the golden era of Hollywood film-making...I thought James Cagney, George Raft, George Bancroft and Jane Bryan were just terrific in this film... I can watch this movie three or four times a year, depending on my mood and state of mind... I never seem to grow tired of this film... Probably never will, either....I am much more into the tough guy and mobster roles' actors like Cagney, Bogie, Robinson & George Raft made in their peak years in Hollywood... I never was big on Musicals' or Song and Dance films..... The years between 1930 to 1950 are no doubt my favorite years of classic film-making..... "Gangster & Horror" were at their best....MR.BILL Raleigh