Okay, so Lew Ayres might be miscast as a mobster. He's not exactly a rugged tough guy. He also sounds too refine for the role. But I'm sure he has some good moments. I love the meeting scene when the other mobsters were trying to back him up and he just stares them down. I got to see that clip on youtube. I'd love to see more and I'd also love to see Lew and Jimmy in scenes together. If anyone has seen the movie and can answer some questions I have, please let me know.
shareYep, pretty boy Lew could pull of acting convincingly for his era from time to time. He's always pleasant to watch in the early talkies, if not for anything else, then at least for his youthful exuberance and good looks. The scene that made a big impression impresson on me performance-wise was when Louie read the telegram about his little brother. Lew was great in it-- Just take a look at that relentless gaze! On the other hand, he was very annoying in the next scene where he was talking to The Gimp on the phone. Archie Mayo apparently must have told him to speak in a slow drawl to illustrate his character's mood, but Lew severely overdid it. Otherwise, he was pretty good in this movie. I think the best part of it are the last 15 minutes or so, where Lew manged to mostly carry the entire scene by himself.
I'm here, Mr. Man, I can not tell no lie and I'll be right here 'till the day I die