You Can’t Get Away with Murder (1939): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
You Can’t Get Away with Murder is a 1939 crime drama directed by Lewis Seiler, starring Humphrey Bogart as Frank Wilson, Joseph Crehan and Harvey Stephens. It runs 1 hour 29 minutes. Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 29m (89 min)
- Director
- Lewis Seiler
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- First National Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is You Can’t Get Away with Murder About?
The premise of You Can’t Get Away with Murder without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A hard‑boiled crime drama follows Johnnie, taught the underworld trade by petty thug Frank Wilson. When Wilson murders a pawnbroker with a gun stolen from Johnnie’s sister Madge’s fiancé, Fred Burke, Burke is sentenced to Sing Sing’s death house. Wilson then pressures Johnnie to stay silent, even after both end up locked in the same penitentiary.
You Can’t Get Away with Murder Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- reference to boston massachusetts
- b movie
- false accusation of murder
- new york city
- hell's kitchen manhattan new york city
- pawnshop robbery
- alibi
- false conviction
- shoe factory
- prison library
- lawyer
- district attorney
+38 more Show fewer
- attempted jailbreak
- written confession
- railroad boxcar
- exoneration
- gangster crime
- firearms
- night watchman
- convict
- failed escape attempt
- kid brother in trouble
- marriage engagement
- revolver
- betrayal
- arrest
- framed for murder
- river tour
- innocent man convicted
- innocent on death row
- racial stereotype
- race against time
- prison chapel
- old man young man relationship
- dying man
- heist crime
- prison drama
- melodrama
- juvenile crime
- circumstantial evidence convicts an innocent man
- based on a stage play
- gangster
- pawnbroker
- prison life
- reference to gettysburg address
- reference to abraham lincoln
- gasoline station robbery
- hudson river
- juvenile delinquent
- manhattan new york city
Where to Watch You Can’t Get Away with Murder
Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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You Can’t Get Away with Murder Cast & Characters
Humphrey Bogart leads the cast as Frank Wilson, with Joseph Crehan as Warden of Sing Sing and Harvey Stephens as Fred Burke. Directed by Lewis Seiler; 39 actors are credited in all.
- Director Lewis Seiler
-
Humphrey Bogart as Frank Wilson -
Joseph Crehan as Warden of Sing Sing - Harvey Stephens as Fred Burke
- Billy Halop as John 'Johnny' Stone
Also Starring in You Can’t Get Away with Murder
· 35 more- Gale Page Madge Stone
- Henry Travers Pop
- John Litel Attorney Carey
- Tom Dugan 'Lock' Man Inventor (uncredited)
- Joe Sawyer Red
- George E. Stone Toad
- Harold Huber Scappa
- Robert Strange Chapin Loan Co. Pawnbroker (uncredited)
- Jack Mower Keeper Monahan (uncredited)
- Eddy Chandler Attacked Keeper (uncredited)
- Robert Homans Keeper Burns (uncredited)
- Sidney Bracey Tourist on Boat (uncredited)
- Emory Parnell Second Detective (uncredited)
- Frank Mayo Keeper Collins (uncredited)
- Frank Faylen Boat Tour Guide (uncredited)
- John Ridgely Gas Station Proprietor
Show all 39 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Tom Wilson Pool Hall Proprietor (uncredited)
- Robert Emmett O'Connor First Detective (uncredited)
- Cliff Saum Officer (uncredited)
- John Harron Convict Remaining in Cell (uncredited)
- Herbert Rawlinson District Attorney
- Garry Owen Lock Man Inventor (uncredited)
- Joe King Prison Guard
- Noble 'Kid' Chissell Convict (uncredited)
- George Offerman, Jr. Billiards Player (uncredited)
- Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson Sam (uncredited)
- Hal Craig Motorcycle Policeman (uncredited)
- Gertrude Short Peg (uncredited)
- Joe Downing Smitty
- Edgar Edwards Trainer (uncredited)
- George Taylor Prisoner (uncredited)
- Martin Cichy Guard (uncredited)
- Jack A. Goodrich Stenographer (uncredited)
- Frankie Burke Billiards Player (uncredited)
- Edwin Brian Billiards Observer (uncredited)
You Can’t Get Away with Murder Plot Summary
What happens in You Can’t Get Away with Murder from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, Johnny Stone, Billy Halop, defies his sister Madge Stone, Gale Page, and teams with Frank Wilson, Humphrey Bogart, a ruthless mobster. The duo steal a car and then stage a gas station robbery. Later, Johnny borrows Fred Burke’s gun, Harvey Stephens, to give to Frank for a pawnshop robbery. The owner resists and triggers an alarm; Frank kills him and leaves the gun at the scene, so Johnny cannot return it to Fred’s room. When investigators find the gun, they doubt Fred’s alibi and he is arrested and convicted of murder. Meanwhile, based on fingerprint evidence, Frank and Johnny are arrested and convicted of the gas station robbery. All three men are sent to Sing Sing.
Full summary
The whole story of You Can’t Get Away with Murder, scene by scene
You Can’t Get Away with Murder Trailers & Videos
The trailer of You Can’t Get Away with Murder.
How Well Do You Know You Can’t Get Away with Murder?
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
Which actor plays the mobster Frank Wilson?
Cars in You Can’t Get Away with Murder
6 cars on screen, including the 1938 Buick Special and the Harley-Davidson unknown.
-
1938 Buick Special Important role -
Harley-Davidson unknown Important role -
1937 Buick Roadmaster Minor role -
1936 Chevrolet Master De Luxe Minor role
You Can’t Get Away with Murder Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “Explorando o Crime” and “Förvildad ungdom”.
- Also known as
-
- Explorando o Crime
- Förvildad ungdom
- I agonia enos drapeti
- Kuolemaantuomitun tunnustus
- La bolgia dei vivi
- Le châtiment
- Meta to eglima
- Un crimen en la conciencia
- Преступление тебе с рук не сойдет
Seen You Can’t Get Away with Murder?
Movies Like You Can’t Get Away with Murder
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Accused of Murder, Murder Over New York and Murder in Reverse?.
You Can’t Get Away with Murder FAQ: Where to Watch & Cast
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of You Can’t Get Away with Murder, each answered in a sentence.
How long is You Can’t Get Away with Murder?
You Can’t Get Away with Murder runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).
When was You Can’t Get Away with Murder released?
You Can’t Get Away with Murder was released on March 23, 1939.
Who directed You Can’t Get Away with Murder?
You Can’t Get Away with Murder was directed by Lewis Seiler.
More films by Lewis Seiler Who is in the cast of You Can’t Get Away with Murder?
You Can’t Get Away with Murder stars Humphrey Bogart as Frank Wilson, Joseph Crehan as Warden of Sing Sing and Harvey Stephens as Fred Burke, among 39 credited actors.
Where can I watch You Can’t Get Away with Murder?
In the US, You Can’t Get Away with Murder is streaming on HBO Max and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
Does You Can’t Get Away with Murder have a post-credit scene?
No. You Can’t Get Away with Murder has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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