City for Conquest

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City for Conquest

1940

1h 41m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Truck driver Danny Kenny (James Cagney) gets into boxing to help his talented younger brother, Eddie (Arthur Kennedy), pay for music school. But when Danny's relationship with his girlfriend, Peggy Nash (Ann Sheridan), disintegrates, boxing becomes his life. After Danny's blows knock down opponent after opponent, he gets a shot at competing for the welterweight championship. But when a corrupt fight ends with Danny's vision getting damaged, his entire future is put into question.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Picture carries plenty of dramatic punch.

Nov 1, 2007

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Uunevenly paced, mounts slowly to a sizzling prizefight sequence, which comes somewhere about the middle, then sags off to a long-drawn, agonized finish.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 25, 2006

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TV Guide

Litvak's careful poduction overcomes any flaws.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 1, 2007

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The heartwrenching tearjerker love story surfaces at the end as a winner by a narrow decision.

Rated: B-

Jul 22, 2006

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Film4 Staff

Film4

Cagney's marvellous performance almost saves the mawkish ending.

May 24, 2003

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tucker s

One of my favorite movies of all time. Absolutely outstanding. Not sure how anyone could give it a bad review....

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/25

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David F

A soapy boxing film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/04/24

Full Review

Audience Member

I thought I had seen most of the James Cagney movies and then discovered "City for Conquest" on TCM. It boasts a wonderful performance by Cagney and Ann Sheridan too and director Elia Kazan in an acting role as a gangster before he began directing films. A very enjoyable film and have a handkerchief available for the finale.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

sappy, by todays standards

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Cagney boxing movie. Melodramatic, but very enjoyable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/14/19

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bill t

Interesting parrallel story of a up and coming boxer and his goil, an up and coming singer, sort of falls apart in the second half and becomes oscar bait sentimentality with Cagney chewing the scenery. Ends with a big number, a big speech AND a tearful reunion! Ho boy...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Anatole Litvak

Director

James Cagney

Danny Kenny

Ann Sheridan

Peggy Nash

Frank Craven

`'Old Timer'`

Donald Crisp

Scotty MacPherson

Frank McHugh

`'Mutt'`

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Synopsis

Truck driver Danny Kenny (James Cagney) gets into boxing to help his talented younger brother, Eddie (Arthur Kennedy), pay for music school. But when Danny's relationship with his girlfriend, Peggy Nash (Ann Sheridan), disintegrates, boxing becomes his life. After Danny's blows knock down opponent after opponent, he gets a shot at competing for the welterweight championship. But when a corrupt fight ends with Danny's vision getting damaged, his entire future is put into question.

Director: Anatole Litvak
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 1940, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 41m

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