{{short description|1930 film directed by Walter Summers}} {{Infobox film | name = The Man from Chicago | image = The_Man_from_Chicago_film_Theatrical_release_poster_(1930).jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Walter Summers | producer = John Maxwell | based_on = play by Reginald Simpson | writer = Walter C. Mycroft <br> Walter Summers | narrator = | starring = Bernard Nedell <br> Dodo Watts <br> Joyce Kennedy | music = | cinematography = Walter J. Harvey <br> James Wilson | editing = Leslie Norman | studio = British International Pictures | distributor = Wardour Films | released = {{Film date|1930|10|22|df=yes}} | runtime = 88 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = | gross = }} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Use British English|date=April 2016}} '''''The Man from Chicago''''' is a 1930 British crime film directed by Walter Summers and starring Bernard Nedell, Dodo Watts, Joyce Kennedy and Austin Trevor.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=The Man from Chicago |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150042803 |access-date=15 February 2026 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> It was written by Walter C. Mycroft and Summers from a play by Reginald Simpson.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=16 Jan 1931 |title=A Scotland Yard Film.; "The Man From Chicago" is a Sound Picture of a Gangster. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/01/16/archives/a-scotland-yard-film-the-man-from-chicago-is-a-sound-picture-of-a.html |journal=The New York Times}}</ref> It was produced at Elstree Studios by British International Pictures.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wood |first=Linda |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-british-films-1927-1939.pdf |title=British Films, 1927–1939 |publisher=British Film Institute |year=1986 |pages=69 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016015016/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-british-films-1927-1939.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>
==Synopsis== The screenplay concerns an American gangster who moves to Britain and begins to take on the British criminal underworld.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6be7b90d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910204554/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6be7b90d|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2018|title=The Man from Chicago (1930)|publisher=British Film Institute|accessdate=10 September 2018}}</ref>
==Cast== *Bernard Nedell as Nick Dugan *Dodo Watts as Cherry Henderson *Joyce Kennedy as Irma Russell *Morris Harvey as Rossi *Albert Whelan as Sgt. Mostyn *Austin Trevor as Inspector Drew *Billy Milton as Barry Larwood *O. B. Clarence as John Larwood *Dennis Hoey as Jimmy Donovan *Ben Welden as Ted
==Reception== ''Film Weekly'' wrote: "Here is a happy instance of Britain poaching successfully on Holywopd's preserves. It has most of the movement and snap of American -crook films, and, in addition, a little extra polish and smoothness of detail that is due to Walter Summers' enterprising direction and Bernard Nedell's fine acting."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=8 August 1931|title=The Man from Chicago|id={{ProQuest|1705141428}}|magazine=Film Weekly|volume=6|issue=147|pages=24. }}</ref>
''Kine Weekly'' wrote: "An excellent crook drama, skilfully adapted from the play, which has the slickness and easy movement of the American drama of this character, while retaining English characterisation and atmosphere. Bernard Nedell makes a superb villain, and contributes in no small measure to the success of the entertainment. Direction and supporting characterisation are good."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=30 October 1930|title=The Man from Chicago|id={{ProQuest|2320721700}}|magazine=Kine Weekly|volume=164|issue=1228|pages=42}}</ref>
''The New York Times'' wrote: "''The Man From Chicago'' ... is certainly superior to the average British product. Yet its central figure conforms to a screen convention in gangsters which has long since been outmoded on this side of the water, and the result is an artificiality which hurts the entire production."<ref name=":0" />
''Variety'' wrote: "In characteristic British fashion the script writer and director cast logic to the wind. This disregard of all fan intelligence in an ungainly effort to reach for what the Britishers think must be box office features among many reasons for overseas product getting such a cold return here. ... Painful detail over inconsequentials is another trait again manifest in this British release. Repetition of conversation and antiquated dialog interspersed with such Quixotic emphasis as 'You swine,' etc mingle with lengthy footage devoted to a couple of mechanics ambling about a garage."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=21 January 1931|title=The Man from Chicago|id={{ProQuest|1529128626}}|magazine=Variety|volume=101|issue=6|pages=30}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|0021111}}
{{Walter Summers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Man from Chicago}} Category:1930 films Category:1930 crime films Category:1930 English-language films Category:Films directed by Walter Summers Category:British black-and-white films Category:British crime films Category:Films shot at British International Pictures Studios Category:1930 British films Category:English-language crime films