MovieChat Forums > The Roaring Twenties (1939) Discussion > Danny, Another Forgotten Victim

Danny, Another Forgotten Victim

posted 15 years ago by joeparkson
7 replies | jump to latest

No one feels bad for Danny Green (Frank McHugh), who ends up being killed by Nick Brown as a warning to Eddie Bartlett? There was a note on his body, "leave me alone and maybe I'll leave you alone."

Eddie gives him a nice short eulogy; "I told you this wasn't your racket."

Danny was such a great friend to Eddie Bartlett. Early in the story, Eddie is frustrated at not being able to get a job and is about to break a chair, when Danny stops him by saying, If you want to break something, break my jaw, it'll be cheaper."

Frank McHugh was a decent, not great character actor who usually played the leading man's sidekick with a touch of humor.

[–] Noir-It-All 14 years ago

Very true. Danny got a lot of guff, too, from Bogie. When Danny said he was going to ask a girl to dance, Bogie said something obnoxious.

I'd love to know what a psychologist would say about these guys that hang around someone like Eddie and the other kingpins. It's like they don't have a life of their own.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] novastar_6 12 years ago

I don't know about that but it seems obvious Danny doesn't have any other friends than Eddie.

[–] jtyroler 11 years ago

When would he have time to make many friends? He was working 12 hours a day to barely afford a $4 a week room. He seems, at least in the beginning of the movie, to be pretty awkward socially. He kind of acts like someone who was picked on in school, except that he had one friend, Eddie, who would stick up for him.

[–] Piperson 10 years ago

In McHugh's IMDB bio it mentions that he made 11 movies with Cagney, his very good friend. I have read elsewhere that, towards the end of his life, Cagney looked out for him and tried to get him work because he needed the money.

[–] donofthedial 10 years ago

Cagney, McHugh, James Gleason, Pat O'Brien, Spencer Tracy, etc, were all part of the 'Irish Mafia', so called. A big group of actors of Irish descent working in Hollywood. Gotta look out for you own!

Frank McHugh!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6QelF4NKkn8/Uxzlf4NchnI/AAAAAAAAB-4/2eAf7XU6 Th4/s1600/9bfacc42df5a7dd75bdc3669a8660f14.jpg

http://www.oocities.org/hollywood/park/1568/IrishMafia.html

http://fan.tcm.com/_Hollywood39s-34Irish-Mafia34/blog/6563423/66470.ht ml?createPassive=true

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I think you are reading too much into it, honestly.

[–] donofthedial 10 years ago

Winds up on the sidewalk with his eyes wide open staring at nothing. Gaaaaahhhhh.

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I think you are reading too much into it, honestly.

[–] wwkentucky 8 years ago

I’m very fortunate. All instances of shocking, cold-blooded brutality from my childhood were witnessed in movies and not in real life.

One of those moments is the murder of Danny Green from “The Roaring Twenties.” He’s an amiable character, the comic relief. The shot of his lifeless, bruised, and beaten body lying on that sidewalk with eyes frozen open in helpless terror is an image that has never left me in the 40-something years since I first saw this film.

Another brutal memory from childhood (and another likeable character lured to his death and viciously murdered by his associates) --- the Slim Pickens character in “White Line Fever” (1975).