# Picture Snatcher

Picture Snatcher is a 1933 American pre-code comedy-drama film starring James Cagney as a gangster who decides to quit to pursue his dream.

## Plot

After leaving prison, gang lord Danny Kean (James Cagney) shocks everyone by quitting crime. He wants his first stint in jail to be his last. So he hands his gang over to Jerry "the Mug" (Ralf Harolde). Having always dreamed of being a news reporter, Danny looks up Al McLean (Ralph Bellamy), city editor of the sleazy Graphic News. Al had offered him a job when he got out, but when Danny shows up, Al is reluctant. Just then, Al's boss, Grover (Robert Barrat), laments that no one has a photograph of a city fireman, who's the latest hot news item. He has barricaded himself in the ruins of his own torched rooms after discovering the burnt remains of his wife and her lover. Danny thus volunteers to get the photo. He takes a cab to the unfortunate firefighter's digs where, posing as an insurance adjuster, he steals the fireman's wedding picture. As a result of this exclusive, Danny is made a staff photographer.
When some journalism students tour the Graphic News (as an example of everything not to do), Danny is attracted to student Pat Nolan (Patricia Ellis). She begins to date him, much to the annoyance of "sob sister" reporter Allison (Alice White), who makes it clear she wants Danny too, though she's currently Al's girlfriend. A complication arises when Danny discovers that Pat's father, Casey Nolan (Robert Emmett O'Connor), is the police lieutenant who shot and arrested him. Naturally, Casey orders his daughter to quit Danny. However, Danny arranges for another newspaper to print a flattering story about him that gets him promoted captain. So Casey begins to change his mind about Danny.
When a woman is scheduled to be executed at Sing Sing, the Graphic News is the only paper not invited. But Danny, after some help from now-Captain Nolan, wangles his way into the execution room with other reporters to witness the electrocution. With a concealed camera strapped to his ankle, Danny snaps a photo of the woman in the electric chair (echoing the real-life picture taken of murderer Ruth Snyder in 1928). But another reporter discovers the camera and informs the guards. A wild car chase ensues, but Danny delivers his prize to the Graphic News and is handsomely rewarded. The photograph is printed on the front page. However, Pat breaks up with him after her father is demoted as the result of Danny's ruse.
Al arranges for Danny to hide from angry police at Allison's apartment, as she is due to be out of town. But she returns early and attempts a seduction of an uninterested Danny. At that moment, a drunken Al enters, and Danny loses a friend. He takes to drink to drown his sorrows. Al tracks him down and apologizes; he has found out about the unfaithful Allison. Al also says he has quit drinking (a habit that cost him jobs with respectable newspapers) and quit the News. They then discover the leader of Danny's old gang, Jerry the Mug, has killed two policemen during a robbery. He is now the target of a manhunt. If Danny or Al can find Jerry, the scoop will get them jobs at any paper. Danny finally tracks down Jerry and feigns loyalty. The police soon locate Jerry's hideout, and a battle ensues, during which Danny snaps photos of Jerry as he's being machine-gunned. When the police break in, Danny claims he was working undercover for policeman Nolan, which earns him promotion back to captain. Danny and Pat are reunited, and the inside story is Danny and Al's passport to jobs on the Daily Record.

## Cast

* James Cagney as Danny Kean
* Ralph Bellamy as J.R. "Al" McLean
* Patricia Ellis as Patricia "Pat" Nolan
* Alice White as Allison
* Ralf Harolde as Jerry "the Mug"
* Robert Emmett O'Connor as Lieutenant/Captain Casey Nolan
* Robert Barrat as Grover
* G. Pat Collins as Hennessy the Fireman
* Arthur Vinton as John
* Tom Wilson as Leo
* George Chandler as Reporter
* William H. Strauss as Tailor

## Home media

Picture Snatcher was released on DVD by Warner Bros. in 2008, which also featured an audio commentary.