James Cagney is cast in the title role of Danny Kenny, a boxer, who loves Peggy Nash, played by Anne Sheridan. He climbs to the top of the boxing world, but Peggy, wants to be a singer, and leaves him for Murray Burns, played by Anthony Quinn, who can help her career. Danny gets a title fight, which he is winning, but dirty tactics, by the other boxer, cause Danny to lose not only the fight, but his eyesight as well. He has to leave boxing, and is forced to sell papers at a newsstand. Danny’s brother, Eddie, has become a successful orchestra conductor, and has a concert, that is being broadcast over the radio. Danny is working at the newsstand and doesn’t attend, but is listening. Eddie dedicates the performance to his courageous brother, Danny. Although Danny isn’t at his brother’s concert, Peggy is. She leaves the concert hall, overcome with emotion, and goes to see Danny. Before Peggy arrives, Danny’s sight returns, and he is able to see Peggy, and the two reunite.
The two principles, James Cagney and Anne Sheridan are good in their roles, in what is essentially a melodrama. Cagney displays top notch acting, when he finds out that Anne Sheridan has left him for Murray Burns. He takes out his heartbreak on his sparring partner, who he knocks hard to the canvas. Anne Sheridan is brought to tears, when her roommate, tells her story of how her marriage broke up, because of her career. She is reminded of the mistake she made by breaking up with Danny.
Anatole Litvak directed City For Conquest, getting the most out of a film, that could have been just another melodrama. The scenes work well, especially Eddie’s dedication to his brother Danny. Also the fight scenes and the scene of Anne Sheridan’s angst when she is listening on the radio, to Danny’s fight. Litvak has saved the best for last, when the first person Danny sees is Peggy.
An added touch to this film, is the narrator, known only as Old Timer and played by Frank Craven. He gives us the story of the childhood sweethearts, and is mildly amusing.
City For Conquest is an enjoyable film, and its story, is a familiar one. Cagney is a natural in this movie, and his tough Irish boxer is reminiscent of an Italian boxer named Rocky Balboa, decades later.