Terrific gangster film
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Doorway to Hell
voacor — 18 years ago(January 10, 2008 10:21 PM)
This film was made just a year after the infamous "Saint Valentine's Day Massacre" and while Prohibition was still in effect. Much of the material is taken right from the headlines of the time although certainly exaggerated. The big shoot out at the "Acme Brewery" is way over the top. They must have had over a hundred actors and extras in that one. While some guys are fighting hand to hand at the entrance gate, others are firing pistols, rifles and machine guns from farther back.
Ayres does a good job in his role, but he is almost too good looking and clean for the role. I'll bet they wished they had put Cagney in that role a year later when they saw him "Public Enemy." -
Badwolf57 — 14 years ago(September 01, 2011 02:39 PM)
I definitely agree, Lew Ayres was miscast, which led to the character's complete unbelievabilty, nevertheless he did give a good performance (except for those parts where he stared off into space, which to me at least seemed an amateur and overdramatic way to express rage).