The Roaring Twenties
1939 · Movie · 104 min · ★ 7.5 · 90% critics
After World War I, three former soldiers try to rebuild their lives in a country reshaped by Prohibition. When steady work is hard to find, one drifts from driving a cab into bootlegging, pulling in an old friend as legal help and another as a partner, until ambition, loyalty, and romance strain their bond.
Where to watch
Watch free on Tubi.
2 hours to watch.
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1939
- Release date
- 1939-10-28
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Critic score
- 90/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (268 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a classic Prohibition-era gangster story with rapid-fire dialogue, shifting friendships, and a rise-and-fall arc; Not for you if you prefer lighthearted crime tales or minimal violence, like in White Heat.
Pros: fast-paced crime drama; strong lead performances; vivid Prohibition-era feel | Cons: bleak tone throughout; some clichéd characters; uneven romantic subplot
Themes
- prohibition era
- gangster
- great depression
- 1920s
- admiring
Awards & recognition
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Cast & crew
James Cagney
as Eddie Bartlett
Priscilla Lane
as Jean Sherman
Humphrey Bogart
as George Hally
Gladys George
as Panama Smith
Jeffrey Lynn
as Lloyd Hart
Frank McHugh
as Danny Green
Paul Kelly
as Nick Brown
Elisabeth Risdon
as Mrs. Sherman
Edward Keane
as Henderson
Joe Sawyer
as The Sergeant
Directed by Raoul Walsh