hayleygorman-43033 This film was slower and calmer than I expected from a gangster flick, especially one that was pre-Code, but it was very good nonetheless. The importance and pull of this film comes from the cinematography techniques and allusions. I found myself noticing creative usage of angles, one that especially comes to mind is when you see characters talking to someone out of the shot (which I had not seen in a movie from this era before). Scenes faded and transitioned well, not jarringly, which other films from this time have a tendency have a tendency to do. And using inner monologue to display what someone is thinking, so innovative! Overall, a fine movie with innovative techniques used.

d-touponse Gary Cooper and Sylvia Sydney play magnificent roles in this gangster/romantic film. The love between them was what kept me watching. Near the beginning she wants him to be successful and have money, but once she realizes how lucky she is that he's not involved in any gangs she wants it to stay that way. Things like that always seem to turn around. Their acting was phenomenal and she delivered all the scenes perfectly like she was really in the moment. Her facial expressions and close ups are what really made me fall in love with her character. She's very hostile towards the gangsters, "red hot." I loved that feisty personality.

Joli M Every time I think I've seen my favorite of Gary Coopers' performances, I find yet another movie where he plays a stand-out character. City Streets is no exception. Maybe the earliest of his films I've seen thus far; there's a cockiness and confidence in his performance that is a bit grittier than one might expect coming from watching a handful of his newer movies. Examples that come to mind are "Meet John Doe," and "Great Balls of Fire," which both came out in 1941 (10 years after City Streets,). The confidence he carries in his role as "The Kid," is louder and more apparent than in these later films. But both the more quiet sense of assurance and the louder work as they need to in the roles he's given. The actress who plays his love interest, Sylvia Sidney or "Nan," also gives a very strong performance as a young woman who must save face and have nerves of steel to deal with the Gangster world she's been dragged into. Even in her few moments of weakness, she makes an effort to change the situation around her for the better. Every actor in this movie is so immersed in the reality of what they could lose (save for "Blackie" and "Pop", who aren't shaken my much of anything,) that you can immediately feel the weight of the world that these characters are tangled in together. Highly recommended!

Fred S. (fredschroeder-63011) The movie is an absolutely wonderful piece. It was a great show of the truth behind the time period, including the degradation of women at the time. The emotion of the characters wasn't shown solely through the skills of the actors, but also the orchestrated soundtrack playing throughout. The sound effects of everything going on in the movie would have been relatively new technology at the time of filming, increasing the overall quality of the production. Lighting and camera angles also made many great shots possible, including the one of convoy barreling down the street(driving over the camera). Another is the shot in the prison where she could watch her cell mate get to the car to go home, that was an amazing shot that emphasized distance very well. All around the movie was excellent, especially knowing that many of the issues faced by the characters can be easily compared and likened to current gang and crime families.