Angels with Dirty Faces James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, the Dead End Kids and Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan
Jerry visits Rocky just before his execution and asks him to do him one last favor - to die pretending to be a screaming, snivelling coward, which would end the boys' idolization of him. Rocky refuses, and insists he will be "tough" to the end, and not give up the one thing he has left, his pride. At the very last moment he appears to change his mind and has to be dragged to the electric chair. The viewer is never told whether Rocky genuinely was afraid, a "rotten sniveling coward," or if he does it for the Father and the boys.
Jerry visits Rocky just before his execution and asks him to do him one last favor - to die pretending to be a screaming, snivelling coward, which would end the boys' idolization of him. Rocky refuses, and insists he will be "tough" to the end, and not give up the one thing he has left, his pride. At the very last moment he appears to change his mind and has to be dragged to the electric chair. The viewer is never told whether Rocky genuinely was afraid, a "rotten sniveling coward," or if he does it for the Father and the boys.
What's your interpretation? Comment or reply @TCManiacs.
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I have no doubt that Rocky did not die "yellow". He did what he did so the boys wouldn't see him as a hero.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog!
Maureen