Angels Over Broadway
Angels Over Broadway

Movie spotlight

Angels Over Broadway

1940
Movie
79 min
English

Small-time businessman Charles Engle is threatened with exposure for embezzling $3,000 for his free-spending wife. Deciding on suicide, he scribbles a note, stuffs it in his pocket and goes for one last night on the town. He is pulled into a poker game by conman Bill O'Brien and singer Nina Barone, but when they discover the dropped note, they resolve to turn the tables, get Engle his $3,000 and save his life.

Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Director: Ben HechtGenres: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir

Plot Summary

A struggling playwright, a fading actress, and a down-on-his-luck producer find themselves entangled in a series of events on a single night in New York City. Their paths cross in a speakeasy, where they become involved with a gangster and a mysterious package. The night unfolds with schemes, betrayals, and unexpected turns as they try to navigate their desperate situations.

Critical Reception

Angels Over Broadway received mixed reviews upon its release, with critics divided on its fast-paced, dialogue-heavy script and somewhat convoluted plot. While some appreciated its noir sensibilities and sharp writing, others found it chaotic and underdeveloped. The film is often noted for its pre-Code era dialogue and the early, less-developed performance of Rita Hayworth.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its witty, rapid-fire dialogue and its stylish, noir-influenced atmosphere.

  • Criticized for a plot that is often seen as too convoluted and rushed.

  • The performances, particularly from Thomas Mitchell, were generally well-regarded.

Google audience: Audience reception for 'Angels Over Broadway' is scarce, but the film is generally appreciated by classic film enthusiasts for its unconventional narrative and sharp writing, characteristic of director Ben Hecht's style.

Fun Fact

The film was written and directed by Ben Hecht, a renowned journalist, playwright, and screenwriter known for his fast-paced and often cynical style, and who also famously refused screen credit for many of his most significant contributions to Hollywood films.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
talisencrw

talisencrw

This was a fun watch, included in my oddly-titled yet truly economical Mill Creek 'Classic Romances' 8-pack, which I purchased because I love old movies and it was only $10. Though if you really stretch the definition of 'romance', the desi...

John Chard

John Chard

No demons, just excellently written angels. Produced, directed and written by Ben Hecht, Angels Over Broadway is a film that I personally hadn't heard of until it showed up on one of the British Freeview stations this last week. The firs...