A Lion Is in the Streets

Released Sep 23, 1953

1h 28m

Drama

List

67%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

25%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Tension boils over in a rural Southern community when the tough, idealistic Hank Martin (James Cagney) backs a group of sharecroppers against their corrupt boss, Robert Castleberry (Larry Keating), who has been taking advantage of them. The two sides come to blows, and one of Martin's friends, Jeb (John McIntire), is arrested for murder and must stand trial. Meanwhile, a gangster, Guy Polli (Onslow Stevens), sees the hunger in Martin and makes it possible for him to rise in politics.

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

The movie offers, amid its hectic and rowdy melodrama, a constant and underlying vision of the crucial power of government to serve the public good-and the ease with which that power can, almost invisibly, be shifted...

Oct 8, 2020

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

With its central character a boorish politician who convinces the riffraff to pick up arms in an attempt to overthrow U.S. democracy, no one can accuse this of not maintaining a sliver of contemporary currency. Beyond that, there’s not much to recommend.

Rated: 2/4

May 13, 2023

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

James Cagney exhibits much of his old-time bantam force and magnetism in a story about a cottonstate fascist. But the movie compares weakly with All the King's Men, which it resembles.

Dec 2, 2019

Full Review

Alberto Abuín

Espinof

A film with a great cast where the absolute star of the show, never better said, is James Cagney. [Full review in Spanish]

Feb 7, 2017

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Uneven but often powerful look at poor people in revolt.

Jun 26, 2011

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Pure Hollywood balderdash.

Rated: B-

Feb 16, 2006

Full Review

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Blobbo X

Beautifully restored. Blobbo wonder how RT figures an audience rating of 10% based on 3 reviews.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Cagney is magnetic as always but the script is wanting.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

ok late carrer cagney

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

all star cast makes this one go

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

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Raoul Walsh

Director

James Cagney

Hank Martin

Barbara Hale

Verity Wade

Anne Francis

Flamingo McManamee

Warner Anderson

Jules Bolduc

John McIntire

Jeb Brown

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Synopsis

Tension boils over in a rural Southern community when the tough, idealistic Hank Martin (James Cagney) backs a group of sharecroppers against their corrupt boss, Robert Castleberry (Larry Keating), who has been taking advantage of them. The two sides come to blows, and one of Martin's friends, Jeb (John McIntire), is arrested for murder and must stand trial. Meanwhile, a gangster, Guy Polli (Onslow Stevens), sees the hunger in Martin and makes it possible for him to rise in politics.

Director: Raoul Walsh
Screenwriter: Luther Davis
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: William Cagney Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 23, 1953, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2009
Runtime: 1h 28m

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