Overview
A gripping exploration of life in the slums, where dreams clash with harsh realities.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- gritty
- melancholic
- bleak
- classic cinema night
- film noir marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised William Wyler's flexible direction, Gregg Toland's cinematography, and especially Humphrey Bogart's performance, while noting that the social drama can become melodramatic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The East Side slum is physically overlooked by apartments occupied by the rich, while Dave's relationships connect both social worlds.
Baby Face Martin returns to his old neighborhood seeking reconnection but encounters rejection from his mother and former sweetheart.
The film's East Side environment and intersecting subplots are emphasized through deep-focus cinematography associated with Gregg Toland.
The Dead End Kids' funny and vicious antics unfold alongside adult gangster violence in the same neighborhood.
Films like Dead End, and why
The Public Enemy
urban crime drama, class disparity, and morally compromised gangster characters
Angels with Dirty Faces
pre-noir gangster drama combining criminal violence with social tragedy and strong performances
The Naked City
classic urban crime film with deep-focus imagery, intersecting lives, and a bleak view of poverty
Little Caesar
melodramatic gangster story centered on doomed choices and stark social environments
Movie Details
- Director
- William Wyler
- Release Date
- 1937-08-27
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (158)
Cast
- Sylvia Sidney
- Joel McCrea
- Humphrey Bogart
- Wendy Barrie
- Claire Trevor
- Allen Jenkins
- Marjorie Main
- Billy Halop
- Huntz Hall
- Bobby Jordan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dead End about?
- A tense, deep-focus portrait of intersecting lives in a New York slum where poverty, ambition, and gangster violence leave little room for escape.
- What is Dead End like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dead End as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Dead End violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Dead End as moderate.
- What did critics think of Dead End?
- Critics broadly praised William Wyler's flexible direction, Gregg Toland's cinematography, and especially Humphrey Bogart's performance, while noting that the social drama can become melodramatic.
- Which films are like Dead End?
- Films with a similar feel include The Public Enemy, Angels with Dirty Faces, The Naked City, and Little Caesar.
- How long is Dead End?
- Dead End runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dead End?
- In United States, Dead End streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
