The Man from Chicago

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The Man from Chicago
The Man from Chicago film Theatrical release poster (1930).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Walter Summers
Written by Walter C. Mycroft
Walter Summers
Based onplay by Reginald Simpson
Produced by John Maxwell
Starring Bernard Nedell
Dodo Watts
Joyce Kennedy
Cinematography Walter J. Harvey
James Wilson
Edited by Leslie Norman
Production
company
Distributed by Wardour Films
Release date
  • 22 October 1930 (1930-10-22)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Man from Chicago is a 1930 British crime film directed by Walter Summers and starring Bernard Nedell, Dodo Watts, Joyce Kennedy and Austin Trevor. [1] It was written by Walter C. Mycroft and Summers from a play by Reginald Simpson. [2] It was produced at Elstree Studios by British International Pictures. [3]

Contents

Synopsis

The screenplay concerns an American gangster who moves to Britain and begins to take on the British criminal underworld. [4]

Cast

Reception

Film Weekly wrote: "Here is a happy instance of Britain poaching successfully on Holywopd's preserves. It has most of the movement and snap of American -crook films, and, in addition, a little extra polish and smoothness of detail that is due to Walter Summers' enterprising direction and Bernard Nedell's fine acting." [5]

Kine Weekly wrote: "An excellent crook drama, skilfully adapted from the play, which has the slickness and easy movement of the American drama of this character, while retaining English characterisation and atmosphere. Bernard Nedell makes a superb villain, and contributes in no small measure to the success of the entertainment. Direction and supporting characterisation are good." [6]

The New York Times wrote: "The Man From Chicago ... is certainly superior to the average British product. Yet its central figure conforms to a screen convention in gangsters which has long since been outmoded on this side of the water, and the result is an artificiality which hurts the entire production." [2]

Variety wrote: "In characteristic British fashion the script writer and director cast logic to the wind. This disregard of all fan intelligence in an ungainly effort to reach for what the Britishers think must be box office features among many reasons for overseas product getting such a cold return here. ... Painful detail over inconsequentials is another trait again manifest in this British release. Repetition of conversation and antiquated dialog interspersed with such Quixotic emphasis as 'You swine,' etc mingle with lengthy footage devoted to a couple of mechanics ambling about a garage." [7]

References

  1. ↑ "The Man from Chicago". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  2. 1 2 "A Scotland Yard Film.; "The Man From Chicago" is a Sound Picture of a Gangster". The New York Times . 16 January 1931.
  3. ↑ Wood, Linda (1986). British Films, 1927–1939 (PDF). British Film Institute. p. 69. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "The Man from Chicago (1930)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "The Man from Chicago". Film Weekly . 6 (147): 24. 8 August 1931. ProQuest   1705141428.
  6. ↑ "The Man from Chicago". Kine Weekly . 164 (1228): 42. 30 October 1930. ProQuest   2320721700.
  7. ↑ "The Man from Chicago". Variety . 101 (6): 30. 21 January 1931. ProQuest   1529128626.
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