The Crowd Roars (1932)

Cagney Feels the Need for Speed
James Cagney teamed up with director Howard Hawks for this uneven racing melodrama. Despite its 70-minute running time, "The Crowd Roars" (1932) loses some momentum off the track. Worth seeing for the impressive race sequences, Cagney's dynamism and solid performances by the Warner Bros. stock company. Fitfully entertaining, but not Cagney and Hawks at their best.

Historical
I love this film. As an avid racing fan and historian this film is a must have. Good footage of old race cars and speaking parts from some racing legends. Billy Arnold winner of the 1930 Indianapolis 500 has a speaking part. 1932 Indianapolis 500 winner Fred Frame is profiled in the film as well.

CAGNEY BURNS UP THE TRACK
Cinema legend James Cagney could always be depended upon to deliver an energetic performance, and in THE CROWD ROARS (Warner Bros. 1932), the dynamic actor turns in one of his best from Hollywood's fabulous pre-code era.

Cagney plays a racing champ who tries to prevent his kid brother (Eric Linden) from entering the racing profession, and also wants him to break off his romance with a girl (Joan Blondell) whom Cagney considers is a goldigger. Things come to blows when Cagney's gal (Ann Dvorak) becomes fed up with his controlling nature and calls it quits, which drives Cagney to drink, resulting in tragedy on the track when he becomes responsible for the death of his best friend and fellow racer (Frank McHugh).

THE CROWD ROARS was directed by the great Howard Hawks who was a racing aficionado himself and was therefore able to infuse the production with a gritty authenticity that really comes across well. The realism is especially achieved by the location...

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