The Bowery | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | Raoul Walsh |
Produced by |
Joseph M. Schenck Darryl F. Zanuck |
Written by |
Howard Estabrook James Gleason Michael L. Simmons (novel) Bessie Roth Solomon (novel) |
Starring |
Wallace Beery George Raft Jackie Cooper Fay Wray Pert Kelton |
Music by | Alfred Newman |
Cinematography | Barney McGill |
Edited by | Allen McNeil |
Production
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Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date
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Running time
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92 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $2 million (US & Canada rentals) |
The Bowery is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy and action film about the Lower East Side of Manhattan around the start of the 20th century directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Wallace Beery and George Raft. The supporting cast features Jackie Cooper, Fay Wray and Pert Kelton.
In the Gay Nineties, on New York's Bowery, saloon owner Chuck Connors (Beery), finds that his rival, Steve Brodie (Raft), has thrown a muskmelon at his window. The happy-go-lucky Brodie explains that he threw the melon on a dare. As Connors threatens to fight him, the two learn of a fire in neighboring Chinatown. Both men call upon their volunteer fire brigades, and wager $100 on which will be the first to throw water on the fire.
Although Brodie is first to arrive, he finds Connor's young pal, Swipes McGurk (Cooper), sitting on a barrel placed over the fire hydrant preventing Brodie from using it first. Connors arrives and the rival fire fighters brawl as the fire reduces the building to a smoldering ruin, presumably incinerating the crowd of Chinese trapped inside who had been screaming for help at the window. Brodie vows revenge on Connors, leading to a $500 bet that a fighter, whom Brodie calls "The Masked Marvel," can beat "Bloody Butch" a prizefighter managed by Conners. Conners accepts, and the "Marvel" knocks out Bloody Butch with one punch. After the fight, the "Marvel" is revealed to be John L. Sullivan (George Walsh).