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The Beast of the City

The Beast of the City
Beastofthecitymp.jpg
Promotional poster
Directed by Charles Brabin
Produced by Hunt Stromberg
Written by W.R. Burnett (story)
John Lee Mahin
Ben Hecht (uncredited)
Starring Walter Huston
Jean Harlow
Wallace Ford
Jean Hersholt
Cinematography Norbert Brodine
Edited by Anne Bauchens
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • February 13, 1932 (1932-02-13)
Running time
86 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $230,000 (est)
Box office $408,000 (USA)
$202,000 (worldwide exc. US)

The Beast of the City is a 1932 American Pre-Code gangster film featuring cops as vigilantes and known for its singularly vicious ending. Written by W.R. Burnett, Ben Hecht (uncredited), and John Lee Mahin, and directed by Charles Brabin, the film stars Walter Huston, Jean Harlow, Wallace Ford Jean Hersholt, and Tully Marshall.

Police Captain Jim Fitzpatrick (Walter Huston) is a dedicated family man and crime fighter not averse to using violence to fight violence. Although he's been demoted for political reasons, public outcry forces the mayor to take more aggressive action against sleazy gang boss Sam Belmonte (Jean Hersholt), and Fitzpatrick is promoted to police chief. His younger brother, Police Detective Ed Fitzpatrick (Wallace Ford), allows himself to be seduced by a languorously sexy Belmonte gang moll (Jean Harlow) and needs money to continue the relationship. Frustrated when his principled brother will not promote him, he betrays Jim's trust by conspiring with Belmonte's henchmen in a truck hijacking that results in the deaths of a child and another police officer. After a crooked lawyer is able to get those guilty off on all charges, the relentlessly determined Chief turns to vigilantism to rid the city of its "Beasts."

The Beast of the City originated in consultations between MGM head of production Louis B. Mayer and President Herbert Hoover, who was concerned that the public needed to have greater respect for police officers and other law-enforcement officials. The original release included a prologue by Hoover, which was later edited out and then disappeared. The film was produced under the working title "City Sentinels";principal photography took place from 4 November to December 1931 at MGM's studios in Culver City.


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