Jump to content
 







Main menu
   


Navigation  



Main page
Contents
Current events
Random article
About Wikipedia
Contact us
Donate
 




Contribute  



Help
Learn to edit
Community portal
Recent changes
Upload file
 








Search  

































Create account

Log in
 









Create account
 Log in
 




Pages for logged out editors learn more  



Contributions
Talk
 



















Contents

   



(Top)
 


1 Plot  





2 Cast  





3 Production  





4 Reception  





5 References  





6 External links  














Big Town Czar






Cymraeg
 

Edit links
 









Article
Talk
 

















Read
Edit
View history
 








Tools
   


Actions  



Read
Edit
View history
 




General  



What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Cite this page
Get shortened URL
Download QR code
Wikidata item
 




Print/export  



Download as PDF
Printable version
 
















Appearance
   

 






From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 


Big Town Czar
Directed byArthur Lubin
Written byEdmund Hartmann
StarringBarton MacLane
Tom Brown
Narrated byEd Sullivan
CinematographyElwood Bredell
Music byCharles Previn

Production
company

Universal Pictures

Distributed byUniversal Pictures

Release dates

  • May 3, 1939 (1939-05-03) (New York City)
  • May 11, 1939 (1939-05-11) (United States)
  • Running time

    66 minutes
    CountryUnited States
    LanguageEnglish

    Big Town Czar is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Arthur Lubin starring Barton MacLane and Tom Brown.[1][2]

    Plot

    [edit]

    New York City newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan relates the story of crime boss Phil Daley's rise and fall. To the disappointment of his parents but delight of younger brother Danny, crime has paid off handsomely for Phil, but he isn't able to discourage Danny from following in his footsteps.

    Danny bribes a prizefighter to take a dive, costing rival gangster Mike Luger a lot of money in bets. Danny ends up dead, and Phil needs to lie low because Luger's looking for him, too. He manages to kill Luger, but ends up arrested, convicted and sentenced to die.

    Cast

    [edit]

    Production

    [edit]

    The film was based on a story by Ed Sullivan. Universal bought it in August 1938.[3] Barton MacLane was cast in December.[4]

    Lubin was attached to the film in February 1939.[5]

    Filming started 24 February 1939.[6]

    Reception

    [edit]

    The New York Times called it "a bustling little melodrama."[7]

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ Big Town Czar Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 6, Iss. 61, (Jan 1, 1939): 113.
  • ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 September 2019). "The Cinema of Arthur Lubin". Diabolique Magazine.
  • ^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOODD New York Times 3 Aug 1938: 15.
  • ^ 'Citadel' Chosen Best Picture in English: Morris in Potter Story Owen Plays Book Broker New MacLane Assignment Davis in 'Poor Nut' Los Angeles Times 17 Dec 1938: A7.
  • ^ Special to The New York Times. (1939, Feb 17). SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD. New York Times
  • ^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times 24 Feb 1939: 21.
  • ^ THE SCREEN: 'Big Town Czar,' at the Criterion, Proves Again That Crime Doesn't Pay--British Preparedness Film By FRANK S. NUGENT. New York Times 04 May 1939: 33.
  • [edit]


  • t
  • e

  • Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Town_Czar&oldid=1208513333"

    Categories: 
    1939 films
    1939 mystery films
    Films directed by Arthur Lubin
    American mystery films
    American black-and-white films
    Films scored by Frank Skinner
    1930s English-language films
    1930s American films
    Mystery film stubs
    Hidden categories: 
    Articles with short description
    Short description matches Wikidata
    Template film date with 2 release dates
    All stub articles
     



    This page was last edited on 17 February 2024, at 20:48 (UTC).

    Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.



    Privacy policy

    About Wikipedia

    Disclaimers

    Contact Wikipedia

    Code of Conduct

    Developers

    Statistics

    Cookie statement

    Mobile view



    Wikimedia Foundation
    Powered by MediaWiki