Hell’s Kitchen (1939): Cast & Plot
Hell’s Kitchen is a 1939 drama directed by Lewis Seiler and E.A. Dupont, starring Stanley Fields as Buck Caesar, Ronald Reagan and Grant Mitchell. It runs 1 hour 21 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 21m (81 min)
- Directors
- Lewis Seiler and E.A. Dupont
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Hell’s Kitchen About?
The premise of Hell’s Kitchen without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A paroled convict takes a job at a boys' reform school, determined to clean up the corrupt environment. His attempts to raise standards alarm the warden, who has been siphoning school funds. The warden devises a scheme to sabotage the convict’s reforms, framing him for crimes and imposing a crackdown on the inmates to hide his embezzlement.
Hell’s Kitchen Themes & Keywords
· 38 tags- dead end kids series
- b movie
- double feature film
- low budget film
- henchman
- song
- singer
- singing
- reprisal
- retribution
- ice hockey team
- social worker
+26 more Show fewer
- police detective
- cigarette smoking
- slang
- new york city
- stock footage
- violence
- brawling
- gang leader
- gang member
- held at gunpoint
- vindication
- treachery
- grief
- grindhouse film
- radio broadcast
- ice hockey
- greedy businessman
- going straight
- fractured skull
- crooked businessman
- solitary confinement
- self government
- school superintendent
- rehabilitation
- probation
- juvenile delinquent
Hell’s Kitchen Cast & Characters
Stanley Fields leads the cast as Buck Caesar, with Ronald Reagan as Jim Donahue and Grant Mitchell as Hiram Krispan. Directed by Lewis Seiler and E.A. Dupont; 44 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Lewis Seiler
- Co-director E.A. Dupont
- Stanley Fields as Buck Caesar
-
Ronald Reagan as Jim Donahue - Grant Mitchell as Hiram Krispan
- Arthur Loft as Elmer Krispan
Also Starring in Hell’s Kitchen
· 40 more- Vera Lewis Sarah Krispan
- Margaret Lindsay Beth Avery
- Huntz Hall Bingo
- Billy Halop Tony Marco
- Gabriel Dell Ace
- Frankie Burke Soap
- Bernard Punsly Ouch
- Frederic Tozere Mike Garvey
- George Irving Judge
- Raymond Bailey Whitey
- Lee Phelps Bailiff (uncredited)
- Jack Mower Detective Escort (uncredited)
- Stuart Holmes Man in Judge's Hockey Game Box (uncredited)
- Robert Homans Hardy
- Charles Sullivan Henchman (uncredited)
- Tom Wilson Guard (uncredited)
Show all 44 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Sol Gorss Sweet Al - a Henchman (uncredited)
- Cliff Saum Guard (uncredited)
- Jack Wise Man in Line (uncredited)
- Leo Gorcey Gyp Haller
- Clem Bevans Mr. Quill
- Joe Devlin Nails - a Henchman (uncredited)
- Jack Gardner Henchman (uncredited)
- Dick Rich Guard (uncredited)
- George O'Hanlon Usher (uncredited)
- Louis Natheaux Man in Nick's Office (uncredited)
- Jack Kenney Pants - a Henchman (uncredited)
- Lottie Williams Mrs. Williams (uncredited)
- George Offerman, Jr. Jury Foreman (uncredited)
- Bobby Jordan Joel "Joey" Richards
- Ruth Robinson Margaret Chandler (uncredited)
- Max Hoffman Jr. Gladstone Coach (uncredited)
- Al Lloyd Extra at Hockey Game (uncredited)
- George Noisom George Norris - Witness at Trial (uncredited)
- Reid Kilpatrick Radio Announcer at Hockey Game (uncredited)
- Charley Foy Floogie
- Jimmie Lucas Roll Mop (uncredited)
- Larry Nunn One of the Young Boys (uncredited)
- Ernie Stanton Nick (uncredited)
- Ila Rhodes Maizie
More from Lewis Seiler and E.A. Dupont
More films directed by Lewis Seiler and E.A. Dupont: The True Story of Lynn Stuart, Battle Stations, Women’s Prison and Return to Treasure Island.
Hell’s Kitchen Plot Summary
What happens in Hell’s Kitchen from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Buck Caesar, played by Stanley Fields, is a paroled convict who seeks to make a positive contribution to a shelter for teenage reform school parolees, following a nudge from his nephew, Jim Donahue, a lawyer Ronald Reagan. Jim believes that helping the boys could be good for public relations and, more importantly, for giving Buck a chance at a steadier path. The shelter’s day-to-day life unfolds under the watch of Krispan, a stern administrator whose grip on the place and its funds feels almost like sainthood until the boy’s reality starts to unravel. Into this tense mix enters Beth Avery, one of the shelter’s teachers, whose presence and care becomes a spark for the boys’ sense of possibility.
Full summary
The whole story of Hell’s Kitchen, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Hell’s Kitchen?
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
Who plays the paroled convict Buck Caesar?
Hell’s Kitchen Also Known As
Also known as “Acciaio umano”.
- Also known as
-
- Acciaio umano
Seen Hell’s Kitchen?
Movies Like Hell’s Kitchen
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Hell Bent, Hell’s House and Hell’s Highway.
Hell’s Kitchen FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Hell’s Kitchen, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Hell’s Kitchen?
Hell’s Kitchen runs 1 hour 21 minutes (81 minutes).
When was Hell’s Kitchen released?
Hell’s Kitchen was released on July 3, 1939.
Who directed Hell’s Kitchen?
Hell’s Kitchen was directed by Lewis Seiler and E.A. Dupont.
More films by Lewis Seiler Who is in the cast of Hell’s Kitchen?
Hell’s Kitchen stars Stanley Fields as Buck Caesar, Ronald Reagan as Jim Donahue and Grant Mitchell as Hiram Krispan, among 44 credited actors.
Does Hell’s Kitchen have a post-credit scene?
No. Hell’s Kitchen has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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