The Finger Points (1931)

Release Date: April 11, 1931
Directed by: John Francis Dillon
Studio: Warner Brothers

Costarring:
Richard Barthelmess
Fay Wray

Available on DVD through The Warner Brothers Archive Collection

Nutshell Review, February 2014

10th Anniversary Celebration Movie of the Week, January 28, 2019

Barthelmess is Breckenridge Lee, a naïve Southerner who comes to New York to be a newspaperman. It isn’t long before his innocence falls victim to gangsters, under the wing of tough guy Louis Blanco (Gable).  He begins taking bribes and covering up stories for them. Breck’s girl, Marcia (Wray), urges him to go straight before it is too late.

Reviews

Silver Screen magazine, June 1931:

Most exciting gangster film seen since Little Caesar. It tells the story of an idealistic young reporter who is cruelly disillusioned in Chicago. He turns crooked and begin collecting bribes when he sees what a sap he was. His sweetheart, Fat Wray, tries to make him give it up. The picture isn’t plausible all the way through, but it’s thrilling. Richard Barthelmess, Clark Gable and Regis Toomey are grand.

Quote-able Gable

“Reporter?” first line

“Now, now, now, don’t get yourself all steamed up. Here, have a cigar.”

“Name your price.”

“If he won’t talk price, we’re sunk.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t kill a reporter! Why, the papers would turn this berg upside down. Then we’d all be run out of town.”

“I’ve never seen a chump yet that doesn’t have his price.”

“You big sap!”

“You know in this town it’s every man for himself. Nobody’s going to hand you anything.”

“Well, do we play ball?”

“Getting smart, eh?”

“Double-crossing is very unhealthy in this town. Do you feel well?”

“What a chiseler you turned out to be!”

“Martyr, eh?” last line

Behind the Scenes

Gable filmed scenes for The Finger Points, Night Nurse and The Easiest Way simultaneously.