Movie

Bullets or Ballots

1936 · 82 min

A taut, shadowy crime drama that keeps you leaning in as loyalties shift and danger closes in.

Tagline: WHO Rules The Rackets ? This picture puts the finger on the political higher-ups!
Overview: After Police Captain Dan McLaren becomes police commissioner, former detective Johnny Blake publicly punches him, convincing rackets boss Al Kruger that Blake is sincere in his effort to join the mob. "Bugs" Fenner, meanwhile, is certain that Blake is a police agent.

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How it feels

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Tone: tensestrength 2 of 3
darkstrength 2 of 3
cynicalstrength 1 of 3
earneststrength 1 of 3
Pacing: brisk, 3 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: corruption
crime
deception
betrayal
justice
Places: big city
workplace
Era: period
Audience: adult
Form: twist ending
Content intensity: Gore mild
Language mild
Violence strong
Sex mild

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	5
Horror	1
Humour	3
Realism	7
Romance	3
Tension	6
Darkness	6
Complexity	6
Emotional weight	5

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Where to watch in the UK

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Details

Genres: crime, drama
Directed by: William Keighley
Written by: Seton I. Miller
Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Barton MacLane, Humphrey Bogart, Frank McHugh, Joe King, Dick Purcell, George E. Stone
Music: Bernhard Kaun
Cinematography: Hal Mohr
Runtime: 82 min
Country: United States of America
Languages: English

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Bullets or Ballots

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