The Widow From Chicago (1930)
63 mins | Melodrama | 23 November 1930
Director:
Edward ClineWriter:
Earl BaldwinCinematographer:
Sol PolitoEditor:
Edward SchroederProduction Company:
First National Pictures, Inc.A news brief in the 2 April 1930 Variety claimed that First National Pictures, Inc. made an offer to real-life gangster Al Capone to appear in this film. Just prior to production, lead actress Alice White traveled to Chicago, IL, as noted in the 4 April 1930 Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, which quoted White as saying, “Now I know all about Chicago and, can feel quite natural in [the role of Polly].”
William A. Seiter was initially attached to direct, as stated in the 8 April 1930 [New York, NY] Daily News. The 21 April 1930 Film Daily reported that filming began that week under Seiter’s direction, with cast members including Paul Page, Robert Agnew, Myrna Loy, and Douglas Gilmore. Shortly after, the 3 May 1930 Los Angeles Evening Post-Record indicated that shooting was now taking place under the direction of Edward Cline. Principal photography was completed at First National’s studio in Burbank, CA, by late June 1930, according to the 22 June 1930 [Sious Falls, SD] Argus-Leader.
An item in the 25 November 1930 Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today reported that Mike Donlin, formerly a professional baseball player for the New York Giants, appeared in a speaking role in this film.
While reviews credited Earl Baldwin with the story and screenplay, the 14 April 1930 Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today stated that the film was based on a story by Roy Davis, adapted by Baldwin. ...
A news brief in the 2 April 1930 Variety claimed that First National Pictures, Inc. made an offer to real-life gangster Al Capone to appear in this film. Just prior to production, lead actress Alice White traveled to Chicago, IL, as noted in the 4 April 1930 Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, which quoted White as saying, “Now I know all about Chicago and, can feel quite natural in [the role of Polly].”
William A. Seiter was initially attached to direct, as stated in the 8 April 1930 [New York, NY] Daily News. The 21 April 1930 Film Daily reported that filming began that week under Seiter’s direction, with cast members including Paul Page, Robert Agnew, Myrna Loy, and Douglas Gilmore. Shortly after, the 3 May 1930 Los Angeles Evening Post-Record indicated that shooting was now taking place under the direction of Edward Cline. Principal photography was completed at First National’s studio in Burbank, CA, by late June 1930, according to the 22 June 1930 [Sious Falls, SD] Argus-Leader.
An item in the 25 November 1930 Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today reported that Mike Donlin, formerly a professional baseball player for the New York Giants, appeared in a speaking role in this film.
While reviews credited Earl Baldwin with the story and screenplay, the 14 April 1930 Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today stated that the film was based on a story by Roy Davis, adapted by Baldwin.
Lieutenant Finnegan of the New York Police Department and Jimmy Henderson, youngest detective on the force, board an inbound train trailing "Swifty" Dorgan, a Chicago gangster en route to work for Dominic, a local underworld figure. Dorgan leaps from the train at a bridge crossing and is thought to be killed. Planting a newspaper story that Dorgan escaped from the police, Jimmy assumes the gangster's identity and joins Dominic's gang. However, he is shot down by the mob. Determined to avenge her brother's death, Polly poses as Swifty Dorgan's widow and gets work in Dominic's nightclub. When Dorgan actually returns, Polly persuades him to acquiese to her scheme, and he considers reforming. During an attempted holdup, Polly shoots a detective to protect Dorgan and later unwittingly gets a confession from Dominic that he killed her brother. Cornered by police, he uses Polly as a shield, but Dominic and Dorgan shoot it out until Dominic is forced to ...
Lieutenant Finnegan of the New York Police Department and Jimmy Henderson, youngest detective on the force, board an inbound train trailing "Swifty" Dorgan, a Chicago gangster en route to work for Dominic, a local underworld figure. Dorgan leaps from the train at a bridge crossing and is thought to be killed. Planting a newspaper story that Dorgan escaped from the police, Jimmy assumes the gangster's identity and joins Dominic's gang. However, he is shot down by the mob. Determined to avenge her brother's death, Polly poses as Swifty Dorgan's widow and gets work in Dominic's nightclub. When Dorgan actually returns, Polly persuades him to acquiese to her scheme, and he considers reforming. During an attempted holdup, Polly shoots a detective to protect Dorgan and later unwittingly gets a confession from Dominic that he killed her brother. Cornered by police, he uses Polly as a shield, but Dominic and Dorgan shoot it out until Dominic is forced to surrender.
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