Bullets or Ballots (1936): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Bullets or Ballots is a 1936 crime drama directed by William Keighley, starring Joe King as Dan 'Mac' McLaren, Edward G. Robinson and Barton MacLane. It runs 1 hour 22 minutes and earned $8,605 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 22m (82 min)
- Director
- William Keighley
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Bullets or Ballots About?
The premise of Bullets or Ballots without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The film asks who truly controls the rackets, pointing the finger at political leaders. When police captain Dan McLaren becomes commissioner, former detective Johnny Blake punches him publicly, convincing crime boss Al Kruger that Blake sincerely wants to join the mob. Meanwhile, “Bugs” Fenner believes Blake is a police informant, and the story follows Blake’s dangerous walk between law and the underworld as the city’s power structure is exposed.
Bullets or Ballots Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- new york city
- manhattan new york city
- greed
- no music
- police officer
- telephone
- bank
- police captain
- police commissioner
- police station
- hair dresser
- chauffeur
+38 more Show fewer
- hotel
- double cross
- elevator
- produce
- lawyer
- intercom
- knocked unconscious
- raid
- alcohol
- usher
- map
- railroad
- playground
- intimidation
- courtroom
- judge
- jury
- death threat
- gangster
- bar
- hat
- crime boss
- office
- meeting
- detective
- coffee
- vault
- safe
- child
- cigar smoking
- cigarette smoking
- woman slaps a man
- arrest
- fired from a job
- hatcheck
- nightclub
- pipe smoking
- bogart and robinson
Bullets or Ballots Cast & Characters
Joe King leads the cast as Dan 'Mac' McLaren, with Edward G. Robinson as Johnny Blake and Barton MacLane as Al Kruger. Directed by William Keighley; 90 actors are credited in all.
-
Director William Keighley
- Joe King as Dan 'Mac' McLaren
-
Edward G. Robinson as Johnny Blake - Barton MacLane as Al Kruger
- Charles Sherlock as Detective (uncredited)
Also Starring in Bullets or Ballots
· 86 more- Humphrey Bogart Bugs Fenner
- Joan Blondell Lee Morgan
- Jay Eaton Man Sitting with Lee (uncredited)
- Joseph Crehan Grand Jury Spokesman
- Henry O'Neill Ward Bryant
- Frank McHugh Herman
- George E. Stone Wires Kagel
- Leo White Waiter (uncredited)
- Addison Richards William Kennedy - Newsreel Narrator (uncredited)
- Milton Kibbee Jury Foreman in Newsreel (uncredited)
- Stuart Holmes Doorman (uncredited)
- Eddy Chandler Policeman (uncredited)
- Ralph Dunn Policeman Getting Papers from Fire (uncredited)
- Al Hill Pinball Distributor (uncredited)
- Frank Faylen Gatley - Pinball Racketeer (uncredited)
- Max Wagner Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited)
Show all 90 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Tom Wilson Jailer (uncredited)
- Bill Elliott Hunter - Bank Worker (uncredited)
- Louise Beavers Nellie LaFleur
- Jack Wise Waiter (uncredited)
- George Lloyd Man (uncredited)
- Dick Rush Policeman (uncredited)
- Henry Kolker Mr. Hollister
- Edwin Stanley Judge in Newsreel (uncredited)
- Tom Coleman Sports Commentator (uncredited)
- Frank Marlowe Kruger's Chauffeur (uncredited)
- Howard M. Mitchell Police Official (uncredited)
- Herbert Rawlinson Mr. Caldwell
- John Tyrrell Red (uncredited)
- Garry Owen The Spotter (uncredited)
- Paul Kruger Juror (uncredited)
- Jack Gardner Man (uncredited)
- Frances Morris Beauty Attendant (uncredited)
- Harrison Greene Numbers Player (uncredited)
- Lew Harvey Gangster Muscling in on Lee (uncredited)
- George Beranger Waiter (uncredited)
- Lottie Williams Mrs. Woodward - Grand Jury Member (uncredited)
- Eddie Hart Policeman (uncredited)
- Gilbert Emery Mr. Thorndyke
- Dick Purcell Ed Driscoll
- Eddie Graham Eddie #1 (uncredited)
- Ben Hendricks Jr. Mounted Police Sgt. Donlan (uncredited)
- Norman Willis Louie Vinci
- William Pawley Crail - Ex Con (uncredited)
- Cy Schindell Bookie Who Throws Bag (uncredited)
- Lon Poff Grand Jury Member (uncredited)
- Eddie Shubert Truck Driver with Steaks (uncredited)
- Anne Nagel Bank Secretary (uncredited)
- Carlyle Moore Jr. Kruger's Secretary (uncredited)
- Larry McGrath Referee (uncredited)
- Hal Craig Policeman (uncredited)
- Frank Bruno Ben - Henchman with Wires (uncredited)
- Harry Watson Kid Playing Pinball (uncredited)
- Sam Rice Grand Jury Member (uncredited)
- Guy Kingsford Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
- Raymond Brown Proprietor in Newsreel (uncredited)
- Virginia Dabney Mary - Dancer for Lee (uncredited)
- Huey White Gangster Muscling in on Lee (uncredited)
- Don Downen Usher (uncredited)
- Jerry Fletcher Elevator Operator (uncredited)
- Tom Brower Police Captain (uncredited)
- John Lester Johnson Timothy - Nellie's Boyfriend (uncredited)
- Jack A. Goodrich Cigar Clerk (uncredited)
- Oliver Eckhardt Grand Jury Member (uncredited)
- Victoria Vinton Theater Ticket Seller (uncredited)
- Ralph Remley Captain Kelly (uncredited)
- Alma Lloyd Woman in Curlers Who Won (uncredited)
- Edna Mae Harris Rose - Lee's Maid (uncredited)
- Harold Schlickenmayer Man (uncredited)
- Vance Carroll Policeman (uncredited)
- Mildred Dixon Dancer (uncredited)
- Joe Connors Eddie - Headwaiter (uncredited)
- Rosalind Marquis Specialty (uncredited)
- Wilda Bennett Grand Jury Woman (uncredited)
- Shirley Lloyd Waitress (uncredited)
- Jerry Madden Kid Playing Pinball (uncredited)
- Wallace Gregory Lambert (uncredited)
- Henry Martin Black Chauffeur (uncredited)
- Eddie Butler Garber (uncredited)
- Alice Lyndon Old Lady (uncredited)
- Russell Beach Prizefighter (uncredited)
- Bing Connolly Garage Man (uncredited)
- James Rafferty Second (uncredited)
- Ernie Ripfer Second (uncredited)
- Bert Ross Vendor (uncredited)
- Freddy Welsh Prizefighter (uncredited)
More from William Keighley
More films directed by William Keighley, best-rated first: The Green Pastures, The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Adventures of Robin Hood (re-release) and The Master of Ballantrae.
Bullets or Ballots Plot Summary
What happens in Bullets or Ballots from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Detective Johnny Blake, Edward G. Robinson, is a New York City cop who has built his reputation by cracking down on racketeers. When Blake is kicked off the force, a powerful crime boss named Al Kruger hires him to inject fresh ideas about sidestepping the law and expanding his criminal empire. Blake quickly earns Kruger’s trust and rises through the ranks of the organization, much to the distaste of Bugs Fenner, a hard-edged enforcer who believes Blake to be a police informer.
Full summary
The whole story of Bullets or Ballots, scene by scene
Bullets or Ballots Box Office
Bullets or Ballots grossed $8,605 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$8.6K
- International
- $8.6K
How Well Do You Know Bullets or Ballots?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Before going undercover, what was Johnny Blake's line of work?
Cars in Bullets or Ballots
15 cars on screen, including the 1936 Buick Century and the 1936 Buick Century.
-
1936 Buick Century Important role -
1936 Buick Century Important role -
1936 Buick Limited Important role -
1933 Packard Standard Eight Important role
Bullets or Ballots Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “Revolver und Roulette” and “Guerre au crime”.
- Also known as
-
- Revolver und Roulette
- Guerre au crime
- Wem gehört die Stadt?
- Balas o votos
- Le belve della città
- קליעים או קלפיות
- 子弹与选票
- Пулями или голосами
- Samhällets rovriddare
- گلوله یا آراء
- Balas ou Votos
- Guerra ao Crime
Seen Bullets or Ballots?
Movies Like Bullets or Ballots
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Gang Bullets, Bullets, Blood & a Fistful of Ca$h and Bullets Over Summer.
Bullets or Ballots FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Bullets or Ballots, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Bullets or Ballots?
Bullets or Ballots runs 1 hour 22 minutes (82 minutes).
When was Bullets or Ballots released?
Bullets or Ballots was released on May 26, 1936.
Who directed Bullets or Ballots?
Bullets or Ballots was directed by William Keighley.
More films by William Keighley Who is in the cast of Bullets or Ballots?
Bullets or Ballots stars Joe King as Dan 'Mac' McLaren, Edward G. Robinson as Johnny Blake and Barton MacLane as Al Kruger, among 90 credited actors.
How much did Bullets or Ballots make at the box office?
Bullets or Ballots grossed $8,605 worldwide.
Does Bullets or Ballots have a post-credit scene?
No. Bullets or Ballots has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
