Excellent drama of the New York tenements of 1937 where the rich people live along the same street as the poor people. Movie focuses on two young lovers (Sylvia Sydney, Joel McCrea),killer Baby Face Martin (Humphrey Bogart) and the Dead End Kids (later to become the Bowery Boys). From the incredible opening shot it basically focuses on the kids--it shows the harrowing lives the kids have to live through and how Sydney and McCrea try to keep them good while Bogart teaches them how to rob and kill. Pretty graphic for its day and still strong. Excellent performances by all, especially Bogart, Sydney and Billy Halop (as one of the kids). Also Marjorie Main, Claire Trevor and Ward Bond shine in supporting roles.

This had huge censorship problems--it was adapted from a play and was HEAVILY cut (the language was MUCH stronger in the play and when the kids went swimming they weren't wearing bathing suits!) and Warner Bros. had to fight to keep it strong. Aside from a nice, moral ending this is pretty gritty. A must-see and seeing Bogart, Sydney and McCrea so young is amusing.

This film is VERY typical of the type of gangster film Bogart made (and grew to hate) during the 30s and early 40s--before he was able to break out of this mold with Casablanca, High Sierra and The Maltese Falcon. And, despite it being a rather standard theme for Bogey, it was well-made and very watchable. His acting, as usual, is stellar and the film is well-written, if a bit overly melodramatic. In fact, while a very good film, I knock off a point because it features the Deadend Kids as well (later to morph into the Bowery Boys). In general, I disliked these kids and felt they tended to annoy many in the audience. After all, a little Huntz Hall and Leo Gorcey go a LONG WAY!

Love many of William Wyler's films, his best work being among the greats. Have for a long time hugely admired Humphrey Bogart, something that started watching one of the great screen performances in 'Casablanca' and going on to seeing both his tough as nails types of roles and his 30s performances (often making a big impression in too small roles when the studio knew what to do with him). Likewise with the ever poignantly expressive Sylvia Sidney, she has such telling eyes.

Having heard from many trusted reviewers how good 'Dead End' was, it was hard to not get excited sitting down to watch it. Wasn't disappointed on the most part. 'Dead End', for me and many others, was a very good film, with many aspects even being brilliant, and deserves its praise. It is not perfect and it doesn't see the best work of all involved, plus it may and has been too stagy for some. Can understand that, because there is a filmed stage play feel at times. The best aspects though are so brilliantly done that it is difficult to be too hard on the film.

At times, due to interference from producer Samuel Goldwyn when he expressed disbelief at the meaning of "dead end", the film looks a touch too clean and well lit. Mostly, this was not a problem.

Joel McCrea also came over as rather bland in his role, which is not a massively meaty one in the first place.

Faring much better are the ever movingly expressive Sidney and particularly the intense turn from Bogart. Not to mention affecting Claire Trevor. Wyler directs immaculately and actually, regardless of any reservations of it being too clean in look at times, the film is beautifully photographed with magnificent sets and a remarkably evocative atmosphere. Alfred Newman (another master, one of the best film composers at that time with a distinctive style) provides a haunting score that is quite stirring too.

'Dead End' is a tautly scripted film that never insults the intelligence, entertains and provokes thought. The story doesn't trivialise its not that light subject and provides a fair share of tension and suspense. Nothing felt too predictable and everything to me made sense. The characters are interesting.

Overall, very well done that was nearly great. 8/10