City for Conquest 1940
Fueled by the fire and fury of its two stars, the film follows Danny Kenny and Peggy Nash, sweethearts struggling through poverty in New York City. When Peggy breaks off their engagement in hopes of a better life, Danny pursues a championship boxing career while she becomes a dancer with a sleazy partner. Tragedy may reunite them.
Does City for Conquest have end credit scenes?
No!
City for Conquest does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.
Meet the Full Cast and Actors of City for Conquest
Explore the complete cast of City for Conquest, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.
Ward Bond
First Policeman (uncredited)
Anthony Quinn
Murray Burns
Frank McHugh
'Mutt'
Bob Steele
Kid Callahan (uncredited)
Lee Patrick
Gladys
Joseph Crehan
Doctor
James Cagney
Danny Kenny
Thurston Hall
Max Leonard
Donald Crisp
Scotty MacPherson
Murray Alper
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Margaret Hayes
Sally - Irene's Friend (uncredited)
Sidney Miller
Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited)
Jerome Cowan
'Dutch'
George Tobias
'Pinky'
Walter Bacon
Championship Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Arthur Kennedy
Eddie Kenny
George O'Hanlon
Newsboy (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson
Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
Joyce Compton
Lilly
Charles Lane
Al - Dance Team Manager (uncredited)
Frank Faylen
Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited)
Frank Craven
'Old Timer'
Blanche Yurka
Mrs. Nash
John Sheehan
Man Yelling at Ringside (uncredited)
Ann Sheridan
Peggy Nash
Edward Gargan
Joe - Foreman (uncredited)
Garry Owen
Reporter (uncredited)
William Marshall
Man in Peggy's Dressing Room (uncredited)
Arthur Housman
Radio Listener (uncredited)
Steve Carruthers
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Tom Wilson
Man on Fire Escape (uncredited)
Colin Kenny
Al's Pal (uncredited)
Michael Mark
Tonbstone Painter (uncredited)
Jack Perry
Wales' Handler (uncredited)
Paula Lane
Girl (uncredited)
Paul Panzer
Dance Contest Observer (uncredited)
Lois James
Chorus girl (uncredited)
Lee Phelps
Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Victor Kilian
Bill Poster (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty
Dance Floor Guard (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson
Doctor
Carl M. Leviness
Champion Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Leo White
Dance Contest Observer (uncredited)
Jack Mower
Man Next to MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Party Guest (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien
Waiter (uncredited)
Billy Wayne
Happy - Googi's Henchman (uncredited)
Sally Payne
Singer (uncredited)
Payne B. Johnson
Boy (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel
Championship Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Wade Boteler
New York Policeman (uncredited)
Ben Welden
Cobb
James Conaty
Championship Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Robert Haines
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Scott Seaton
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
James Carlisle
Party Guest (uncredited)
Mike Lally
Fight Ringsider / Party Guest (uncredited)
Alexander Pollard
Waiter (uncredited)
James Dime
Gym Rat (uncredited)
Frank Sully
Radio Listener (uncredited)
John Dilson
Mr. Cahn - Man Buying Newspaper (uncredited)
Kit Guard
Mickey Miller (uncredited)
Eric Mayne
Concert Spectator (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan
Dance Floor Guard #2 (uncredited)
John Arledge
Salesman
George Boyce
Dance Contestant (uncredited)
George Ford
Dance Contestant (uncredited)
Joseph La Cava
Dance Contestant (uncredited)
Hans Moebus
Championship Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Buster Slaven
Sidney - Pupil (uncredited)
Thomas E. Jackson
Pep - Sportswriter (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock
Dance Judge (uncredited)
Ethelreda Leopold
Irene - Dressing Room Blonde (uncredited)
Frank Wilcox
Party Guest (uncredited)
Oliver Cross
Party Guest (uncredited)
William Newell
Max's Lyricist (uncredited)
George Lloyd
'Goldie'
Dick Wessel
Cab Driver by Fire (uncredited)
Joe Gray
Cannonball Wales (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson
Doorman (uncredited)
Edward Keane
Gaul
Harris Berger
Ticket Taker (uncredited)
David Gorcey
Ticket Taker (uncredited)
Pat McKee
Danny's Trainer (uncredited)
Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian
Gym Trainer (uncredited)
Fred Rapport
Party Guest (uncredited)
Harrison Greene
Dance Judge (uncredited)
Jay Eaton
Party Guest (uncredited)
John Indrisano
Referee in Wales Fight (uncredited)
Warren Douglas
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
George Humbert
Organ Grinder's Shill (uncredited)
Danny Jackson
Boy (uncredited)
Robert Winkler
Mush (uncredited)
Sam Hayes
Sam Hayes - Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Elliott Sullivan
Photographer (uncredited)
Stephen Soldi
Organ Grinder (uncredited)
Bernice Pilot
Della - Peggy's Maid (uncredited)
Hugh Chapman
Boy (uncredited)
Malvern Gilmartin
Boy (uncredited)
Jackie Salling
Boy (uncredited)
External Links and Streaming Options
Discover where to watch City for Conquest online, including streaming platforms, rental options, and official sources. Compare reviews, ratings, and in-depth movie information across sites like IMDb, TMDb, Wikipedia or Letterboxd.
Take the Ultimate City for Conquest Movie Quiz
Challenge your knowledge of City for Conquest with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.
City for Conquest Quiz: Test your knowledge of the 1940 drama *City for Conquest*, its characters, plot twists, and memorable details.
What is the nickname Danny Kenny uses when he fights professionally?
Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for City for Conquest
Read the complete plot summary of City for Conquest, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.
A vagabond arrives in New York and is instantly enchanted by the city. Traveling through the poorer side of town, he meets Danny Kenny, a young man with a natural talent for boxing who does not dream of turning professional. Danny’s world widens as he learns the rhythms of the streets, and he becomes a bridge between struggle and aspiration.
Years later, despite having once won a New York Golden Gloves title, Danny takes a job as a truck driver. To fund his brother Eddie Kenny’s tuition at a music school, he begins boxing professionally under the name Young Samson and rises quickly through the welterweight ranks to become a title contender. The city’s pulse and Danny’s grit push him toward fame, even as he tries to keep a sense of family loyalty at his core.
One night, at a dance club with Danny, Peggy Nash is swept away by Murray Burns, a local dancing champion. Murray asks Peggy to become his professional dance partner, insulting Danny in the process. Peggy agrees in the moment but soon learns that Burns is a domineering man who constantly tries to control her life and even sexually abuses her, casting a shadow over their budding partnership and love.
Just before their wedding, Peggy rejects Danny in a letter, as her dancing career advances rapidly. Embittered but unbroken, Danny continues to thrive in the ring and earns a chance to fight for the world welterweight title. The road to the championship is hard-fought, and Danny’s skill is undeniable as he climbs toward the pinnacle of the sport.
During the title fight, Danny gains the upper hand, but the champion cheats by deliberately blinding him with rosin-dusted gloves. Peggy listens to the fight on the radio, her heart torn between pride and fear as the battle unfolds. The match ends in a devastating defeat, and the consequences ripple through both their lives. Peggy’s dream of the stage suffers a blow, and she is reduced to dancing in local shows for low wages, a stark reminder of the cost of ambition.
Danny quits boxing because of his damaged eyesight and opens a newsstand with help from his manager, starting a quieter life that still bears the mark of his gritty past. Eddie, meanwhile, becomes a successful composer of Broadway songs, but his true love remains instrumental music, a calling that echoes in the walls of their shared history.
Danny persuades Eddie to pursue his true calling and work on a symphony about New York City. Eddie dedicates his first major symphony at Carnegie Hall to Danny, who proudly listens to the performance on the radio from his newsstand. The music seems to capture the very soul of the city and their shared memories, a testament to resilience and hope. Sensing Danny’s spirit in the music, Peggy decides to talk to him, and the two tearfully profess their love for each other and decide to resume their relationship.
In the end, the film paints a hopeful portrait of two generations shaped by the same city—the streets that tested them, the stage that dared them to dream, and the enduring bond that finally brings them back together. The story remains a portrait of sacrifice, talent, and the redemptive power of art and love, all set against a backdrop of New York’s relentless rhythm and glow.
Coming soon on iOS and Android
The Plot Explained Mobile App
From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.
Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.
Explore the mobile appWatch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for City for Conquest
Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from City for Conquest. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.
City for Conquest Themes and Keywords
Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.
Unlock the World of Movies with Our Comprehensive Wiki
Dive into our Movie Wiki for in-depth film encyclopedia entries, including cast biographies, production trivia, plot synopses, behind-the-scenes facts, and thematic analyses. Whether you’re researching iconic directors, exploring genre histories, or discovering hidden easter eggs, our expertly curated movie database has everything you need to fuel your cinematic passion.
Similar Movies To City for Conquest You Should Know About
Browse a curated list of movies similar in genre, tone, characters, or story structure. Discover new titles like the one you're watching, perfect for fans of related plots, vibes, or cinematic styles.
Quick Links: Summary, Cast, Ratings, More
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Check out our other apps:
SAT Sphere
Build confidence for the Digital SAT.
Mori Atlas
Discover wild places worth protecting.
Luntero
Search smarter for a home in Amsterdam.
Plot Explained
Unravel movie endings and hidden clues.
Pokechamp
Dive into Pokémon data and battle logic.
Driving Theory
Get ready for your European theory test.
Movie Dust
Plan your next cinema trip with ease.
Musemap
Find art and culture as you travel.
Selkobase
Compare credentials before committing.
Local Manual
Turn an unfamiliar country into practical next steps.
Lernavi
Compare school systems before your next move.
GymRoam
Find a workout stop wherever your plans take you.
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2026)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2026 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy