Archie Mayo and Michael Curtiz co-directed this effective social drama that stars Jimmy Cagney as reformed juvenile delinquent gangster Patsy Gargan, who, as a result of a political favor, is appointed Deputy Commissioner of the state reformatory for trouble youth, where he discovers that it is run by callous and corrupt Thompson(played by Dudley Diggs). Patsy is determined to initiate reforms to help the kids there(he sympathizes because they remind him of himself) but Thompson fights back, getting Patsy removed from his position, but the inmates refuse to lose the reforms put through, and rebel, forcing Patsy to return to prevent a tragedy... Well-directed and acted film is quite compelling as well, overcoming the melodramatic nature of the plot.
Review of The Mayor of Hell
