The Beast of the City (1932)
Police Chief Jim Fitzpatrick is after gangster Sam Belmonte. He uses his own corrupt brother Ed to watch over Daisy who was associated with Belmonte.
The Hatchet Man (1932)
When he’s forced to kill his best friend, a Chinese hit man adopts the man’s daughter.
Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)
In 19th century Paris, a maniac abducts young women and injects them with ape blood in an attempt to prove ape-human kinship but constantly meets failure as the abducted women…
The Guilty Generation (1931)
The children of feuding gangsters fall in love and fight to escape their parents’ notoriety.
Five Star Final (1931)
Searching for headlines at any cost, an unscrupulous newspaper owner forces his editor to print a serial based on a past murder, tormenting a woman involved.
Sidewalks of New York (1931)
A dim-witted slumlord tries to reform a gang of urban boys (and impress an attractive young woman) by transforming their rough neighborhood into a more decent place.
Daughter of the Dragon (1931)
At her Chinese father’s bidding, a woman goes to murder an enemy and meets a Scotland Yard detective.
Guilty Hands (1931)
A district attorney commits the perfect murder when he kills his daughter’s womanizing fiancé and then tries framing the fiancé’s lover.
An American Tragedy (1931)
A social climber charms a debutante, seduces a factory worker and commits murder.
The Public Defender (1931)
A mysterious phantom who calls himself The Reckoner vows to expose the crooked bankers who embezzled their company’s funds.
The Vanishing Legion (1931)
A mysterious master criminal known as The Voice plots with his gang to sabotage the Milesburg Oil Company, but the rightful heir has a secret army of her own to…
The Public Enemy (1931)
Two young Chicago hoodlums, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle, rise up from their poverty-stricken slum life to become petty thieves, bootleggers and cold-blooded killers. But with street notoriety and newfound…
The Secret Six (1931)
Bootlegger/cafe owner, Johnny Franks recruits crude working man Scorpio to join his gang, masterminded by crooked criminal defense lawyer Newton. Scorpio eventually takes over Frank’s operation, beats a rival gang,…
Gentleman’s Fate (1931)
A bootlegger falls apart when his wife leaves him.
The Sleeping Cardinal (1931)
A card cheat is threatened with exposure into joining a criminal enterprise that Sherlock Holmes believes is controlled by Professor Moriarity.
Dance Fools Dance (1931)
When misfortune hits hard on the Jordan family of Chicago’s upper class, Bonnie Jordan, a dazzling and witty girl, finds a job as an aspiring reporter; however, his naive younger…
The Criminal Code (1931)
After young Robert Graham commits a murder while drunk and defending his girlfriend, he is prosecuted by ambitious Mark Brady and sentenced to 10 years. Six years later, Brady becomes…
Hell-Bound Train (1930)
A jeremiad against intemperance, jazz music, and abortion, set on a train filled with unrepentant sinners hurtling toward damnation.
Paid (1930)
Mary Turner gets a three year prison sentence for a crime she didn’t commit. Once released, she plots to get back at the man responsible for her conviction.
The Bat Whispers (1930)
Infamous burglar “The Bat” commits a daring jewelry theft despite heavy police presence. Soon after, a bank theft occurs, which may be the work of the criminal as well. Meanwhile,…
The Doorway to Hell (1930)
A vicious crime lord decides that he has had enough and much to the shock of his colleagues decides to give the business to his second in command and retire…
The Pay-Off (1930)
A thug robs a young engaged couple of their last few dollars. When the thug’s gang boss hears of the robbery, he gives them back their money and takes them…
Road to Paradise (1930)
Loretta Young plays dual roles in this 1930 crime drama about a young thief planning to steal jewels from a wealthy socialite.
The Unholy Three (1930)
A trio of former sideshow performers double as the “Unholy Three” in a scam to nab some shiny rocks.
Raffles (1930)
A distinguished English gentleman has a secret life–he is the notorious jewel thief the press has dubbed “The Amateur Cracksman”. When he meets a woman and falls in love he…
The Big House (1930)
Convicted of manslaughter for a drunken driving accident, Kent Marlowe is sent to prison, where he meets vicious incarcerated figures who are planning an escape from the brutal conditions.
The Benson Murder Case (1930)
A ruthless, crooked stockbroker is murdered at his luxurious country estate, and detective Philo Vance just happens to be there; he decides to find out who killed him.
The Woman Racket (1930)
During a raid, a cop lets a pretty speakeasy employee escape and later begins dating her. Although she loves him, his salary and dull life leave her wanting.
New York Nights (1929)
Show girl Jill Deverne is married to song writer Fred Deverne, and everyone is involved in the Broadway night life and endless parties. Jill is being pursued by a gangster,…
The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu (1929)
A Chinese doctor vows revenge against the allied troops who killed his wife and child during the Boxer Rebellion.
Behind That Curtain (1929)
Sir George hires Hillary Gatt to find out more about Eric who wants to marry Lois. Gatt is murdered and the couple, married, run off to India. Old friend John…
Thunderbolt (1929)
A criminal known as Thunderbolt is imprisoned and facing execution. Into the next cell is placed Bob Moran, an innocent man who has been framed and who is in love…
The Flying Scotsman (1929)
The Flying Scotsman is a 1929 black and white film set on the Flying Scotsman train from London to Edinburgh. Engine driver Bob is due to retire from his job…
Broadway (1929)
A naive young dancer in a Broadway show innocently gets involved in backstage bootlegging and murder.
The Voice of the City (1929)
An escaped convict and the detective tasked with hunting him down end up working in parallel to clear the convict’s name and nab the gangsters that framed him.
The Canary Murder Case (1929)
A beautiful showgirl, name “the Canary” is a scheming nightclub singer. Blackmailing is her game and with that she ends up dead. But who killed “the Canary”. All the suspects…
Piccadilly (1929)
A young Chinese woman, working in the kitchen at a London dance club, is given the chance to become the club’s main act.
The Racket (1928)
A renegade police captain sets out to catch a sadistic mob boss. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2016.