spoilers ahead first ten minutes star witness were introduced quote typical urban american family unquote nameless city another way saying warner brothers version nyc except young children including charming dickie moore sprightly sally blane theyre pretty dreary lot dinner table conversation tedious wish story would move along bring star walter huston wait folks wait sudden serious gangster movie action breaks out drawing family will baby never lets up theres suspense oscarnominated script good acting everything want old movies beit here question chic sales performance must acquired taste presence turns crucial plot hes treated special status credits warner bros must really high sale corny old man routine fit public something lost me perhaps lost time period unknowable factor  moviegoer understand also climax typically melodramatic nevertheless right best release studio year seen far however ive seen eight perhaps thats inconclusive view miss tcm shows it  