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Streets of New York (1939 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Streets of New York' is a 1939 American film directed by William Nigh.
The film is also known as 'The Abe Lincoln of Ninth Avenue', and 'The Abraham Lincoln of the 4th Avenue'.
Plot
, Jackie Cooper, and Marjorie Reynolds, in 'The Abe Lincoln of the 4th Avenue'
"Jimmy" (Jackie Cooper) and crippled "Gimpy" (Martin Spellman) run the corner newsstand. Spike (David Durand), a neighbourhood delinquent, doesn't like the business being on his turf, and does everything he can to get them into trouble, and disrupt their circulation.
When they get in trouble, Judge Carroll (George Irving) tries to help them out. He doesn't want Jimmy going bad, like his big brother, the racqueteer, 'Tap' (Dick Purcell), while Jimmy is trying to go to school and teach himself to be a lawyer, like his hero, Abraham Lincoln.
Jimmy has to choose between the right thing and family when his brother comes to him for help.
The story starts with Jimmey Keenan as a strong independent teenager who owns a news stand while going to night school to study to become a lawyer. Jimmey is also a kindhearted man who takes care of a crippled kid named Gimpy after Gimpy's mother died. While he is trying to be an honorable man, he is weighed down by the reputation of his brother Tap Keenan, a well-known criminal. As he continues his pursuit of becoming a lawyer, a neighborhood teenage gang led by Spike is trying to get him into trouble.
One night during school, Jimmey is notified that Gimpy and rest of Spike's gang were arrested for gambling. Trying to get Gimpy out of trouble, Jimmey goes to the court and convinces the judge that Gimpy is not actually gambling since there was no evidence of involvement with money. Judge Carroll is surprised by how well spoken Jimmey is and lets the kids go. After the court hearing, Judge Carroll learns that Jimmy is the brother of Tap Keenan. He tells Jimmey to continue to pursue his dream, hoping he will not be like his brother. Jimmey goes to see his brother on their mother's birthday. Tap tells Jimmey he can pay for Jimmey's college and wants Jimmey to work for him afterwards. Jimmey declines and tells Tap to stay disconnected with him in the future.
After a Christmas gathering at Judge Corall's home, Jimmey finds out that his brother has killed a man, and is currently hiding from the police. Spike comes to taunt Jimmey and mocks his mother, and a fight breaks out between them. Spike and his gang flees the scene after losing to Jimmey and his friends. Jimmey returns to his room only to find that his brother is hiding in there. Tap tries to convince Jimmey to help him to escape and will be able to live a good life with the money he has, but Jimmey insist Tap to turn himself in. During the conversation, Gimpy tries to open the door to find Jimmey. Not knowing who it is, Tap shoots through the door injuring Gimpy. Jimmey then wrestles with Tap, and police arrest Tap a few minutes later. After a few days, Jimmey is told that Gimpy will be back later. Jimmey then walks away from the newspaper stand, and continues to pursue his dream to become lawyer, like his hero Abraham Lincoln.
Cast
*Jackie Cooper as James Michael 'Jimmy' Keenan
*Martin Spellman as William McKinley 'Gimpy' Smith
*Marjorie Reynolds as Anne Carroll
*Dick Purcell as T.P. 'Tap' Keenan
*George Cleveland as Pop O'Toole
*George Irving as Judge Carroll
*Robert Emmett O'Connor as Police Officer Burke
*Sidney Miller as Jiggsy, newsboy
*David Durand as Spike Morgan
*Buddy Pepper as Flatfoot, newsboy
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