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I find the final thesis in Angels With Dirty Faces patronizing and stupid. Like anyone really buys the idea of a gangster being afraid of death. Or that the kids, seeing their hero being afraid would suddenly reject him and his ways. They’re poor kids from a rough neighborhood who know deprivation and violence. Even if the character of Rocky disappointed them, they’re going to transfer to some other tough guy that has it all and isn’t afraid of anything.

Also, the Petrified Forest spends too much time talking about the human condition and man’s place in the modern world. Even when Bogart shows up as the tough guy to save the movie he can’t save the day from all the damn hubris.

I always recall a story about some RKO executive when someone asked him about what message he thought his movies were going to relate. “We make movies,” he said. “If you want to send a message, go to Western Union!”

I’ve read important books, both fiction and non fiction. I’ve read classics of literature and philosophy. I’ve watched important movies, and I’ve memorized more documentaries than I care to think about. I’ve seen all the great and improving things a person is supposed to see as they grow up. All kinds of art, cultural exchanges, and I have a huge amount of first hand experience with all strata of human beings from the lowest to the highest.

As a result, I’ve kind of gone full circle. I’m so damn educated, I can only relate to gritty black & white crime dramas, two gunned-slow motion-flying-gun men, or people pummeling the shit out of each other with blood spraying everywhere as a result. I don’t need to be informed about the human condition anymore. I’m all full up on the human condition, thanks. What I don’t need is to listen to a couple of love birds prattling on about poetry and how Paris might not be everything you think it is but the desert is so nice. Just get to the guy with the tommy gun! All I really need is a bit of entertainment that isn’t idiotically stupid and doesn’t try to patronize me too much.


I feel a bit like Sarah Vowell does at the end of this short piece of hers about her own movie going experiences. I’ve done hard time in Silent, Swedish and Japanese cinemas, I think I get to watch a bit of bloody action now and then. Actually I’ve also done hard time with cheap flicks that make Hammer Horror and things you’d only find at a Grindhouse look pricey and high class too. Yeah, the early days of cable could give you a really odd mixture sometimes. Also, we watched everything when I was a kid, I’ve seen it all man!