List of crime films of the 1930s explained

This is a list of crime films released in the 1930s.

Title	Director	Cast	Country	Notes
	1930
The Big House	George W. Hill	Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Robert Montgomery	United States	Prison film^[1]
Born Reckless	John Ford, Andrew Bennison	Edmund Lowe, Catherine Dale Owen, Lee Tracy	United States	^[2]
The Cat Creeps	Rupert Julian, John Willard		United States	^[3]
The Doorway to Hell	Archie Mayo	Charles Judels, Lew Ayres, James Cagney	United States	^[4]
Manslaughter	George Abbott	Claudette Colbert, Fredric March, Emma Dunn	United States	Crime drama, prison film^[5]
Night Owls	James Parrott	Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel	United States	Crime comedy^[6]
Raffles	Harry D'Abbadie D'Arrast, George Fitzmaurice	Ronald Colman, Kay Francis, David Torrence	United States	^[7]
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu	Rowland V. Lee	Warner Oland, Neil Hamilton, Jean Arthur	United States	^[8]
The Unholy Three	Jack Conway	Lila Lee, Elliott Nugent, Harry Earles	United States	^[9]
	1931
Blonde Crazy	Roy Del Ruth	James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Louis Calhern	United States	Gangster film^[10]
City Streets	Rouben Mamoulian	Gary Cooper, Sylvia Sidney, Paul Lukas	United States	^[11]
Daughter of the Dragon	Lloyd Corrigan	Anna May Wong, Warner Oland, Sessue Hayakawa	United States	^[12]
Little Caesar	Mervyn LeRoy	Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Glenda Farrell	United States	^[13]
Night Nurse	Igor Auzins, William Wellman	Barbara Stanwyck, Ben Lyon, Joan Blondell	United States	^[14]
The Public Enemy	William Wellman	James Cagney, Edward Woods, Donald Cook	United States	^[15]
Smart Money	Alfred E. Green	Edward G. Robinson, Evelyn Knapp, James Cagney, Ralf Harolde	United States	^[16]
	1932
Arsene Lupin	Jack Conway	John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Karen Morley	United States	^[17]
The Beast of the City	Charles J. Brabin	Walter Huston, Jean Harlow, Wallace Ford	United States	^[18]
Fantômas	Paul Fejos		France	^[19]
The Girl From Chicago	Oscar Micheaux	Eunice Brooks, Starr Calloway, Minta Cato	United States	^[20]
Love Is a Racket	William Wellman	Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Ann Dvorak, Frances Dee	United States	Crime drama^[21]
The Mask of Fu Manchu	Charles J. Brabin, Charles Vidor, King Vidor	Boris Karloff, Lewis Stone, Karen Morley	United States	^[22]
Me and My Gal	Raoul Walsh	Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Marion Burns, George Walsh	United States	^[23]
The Mouthpiece	James Flood, Elliott Nugent	Warren William, Aline MacMahon, William Janney	United States	^[24]
Night at the Cross Roads	Jean Renoir	Pierre Renoir, Winna Winifred, Jean Gehret	France	^[25]
Scarface	Howard Hawks	Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley	United States	^[26]
	1933
Lady Killer	Roy Del Ruth		United States	Gangster film^[27]
The Little Giant	Roy Del Ruth	Edward G. Robinson, Mary Astor, Helen Vinson	United States	^[28]
The Mayor of Hell	Archie Mayo	James Cagney, Madge Evans, Allen Jenkins	United States	^[29]
The Midnight Club	George Somnes, Alexander Hall	Clive Brook, George Raft, Helen Vinson	United States	^[30]
Murders in the Zoo	Edward Sutherland	Charlie Ruggles, Lionell Atwill, Gail Patrick	United States	^[31]
Penthouse	W. S. Van Dyke	Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, Charles Butterworth	United States	^[32]
Pick-Up	Marion Gering	Sylvia Sidney, George Raft, William Harrigan	United States	^[33]
The Sin of Nora Moran	Philip Goldstone	Zita Johann, Alan Dinehart, Paul Cavanagh	United States	^[34]
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse	Fritz Lang	Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Otto Wernicke, Gustav Diessl	Germany	^[35]
	Julien Duvivier	Gina Manès, Harry Baur, Valery Inkijinoff	France	^[36]
	1934
Fog Over Frisco	William Dieterle, Daniel Reed		United States	^[37]
Limehouse Blues	Alexander Hall	George Raft, Jean Parker, Anna May Wong	United States	^[38]
Manhattan Melodrama	W. S. Van Dyke	Clark Gable, William Powell, Myrna Loy	United States	Crime drama^[39]
Search for Beauty	Erle C. Kenton	Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Ida Lupino, Toby Wing	United States	^[40]
	1935
Bulldog Jack	Walter Forde	Jack Hulbert, Fay Wray, Ralph Richardson		^[41]
Crime and Punishment	Pierre Chenal	Harry Baur, Pierre Blanchar, Madeleine Ozeray	France	Crime drama^[42]
Crime and Punishment	Josef von Sternberg	Edward Arnold, Peter Lorre, Marian Marsh	United States	Crime drama^[43]
G Men	William Keighley	James Cagney, Margaret Lindsay, Lloyd Nolan	United States	^[44]
Toni	Jean Renoir	Charles Blavette, Celia Montalván, Jenny Hélia	France	Crime drama^[45]
The Whole Town's Talking	John Ford		United States	Crime comedy^[46]
	1936
15 Maiden Lane	Allan Dwan	Claire Trevor, Cesar Romero, Douglas Fowley	United States	^[47]
Big Brown Eyes	Raoul Walsh	Joan Bennett, Cary Grant, Walter Pidgeon	United States	^[48]
The Crime of Monsieur Lange	Jean Renoir	Jules Berry, René Lefèvre, Sylvia Bataille	France	Crime drama^[49]
Fury	Fritz Lang	Spencer Tracy, Sylvia Sidney, Walter Abel	United States	Crime drama^[50]
The Petrified Forest	Archie Mayo	Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart	United States	Crime drama^[51]
Reefer Madness	Louis J. Gasnier	Dorothy Short, Kenneth Craig, Lillian Miles	United States	Crime drama^[52]
	1937
L'alibi	Pierre Chenal	Louis Jouvet, Erich von Stroheim, Albert Préjean	France	^[53]
Black Legion	Archie Mayo, Michael Curtiz	Humphrey Bogart, Dick Foran, Erin O'Brien-Moore	United States	^[54]
Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo	Eugene J. Forde	Warner Oland, Keye Luke, Virginia Field	United States	^[55]
Dead End	William Wyler	Sylvia Sidney, Joel McCrea, Humphrey Bogart	United States	^[56]
Jump for Glory	Raoul Walsh	Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Valerie Hobson Alan Hale Sr.	United Kingdom United States	^[57]
Marked Woman	Lloyd Bacon, Michael Curtiz	Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Isabel Jewell	United States	^[58]
Pépé le Moko	Julien Duvivier	Jean Gabin, Mireille Balin, Line Noro	France	Gangster film^[59]
You Only Live Once	Fritz Lang	Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda, Barton MacLane	United States	Crime drama^[60]
	1938
Algiers	John Cromwell	Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, Sigrid Gurie	United States	Gangster film^[61]
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse	Anatole Litvak		United States	Crime comedy^[62]
Angels with Dirty Faces	Michael Curtiz	James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart	United States	Crime drama^[63]
	Jean Renoir		France	Crime drama^[64]
Crime School	Lewis Seiler	Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hall	United States	Juvenile delinquency film^[65]
Dangerous to Know	Robert Florey	Stanley Blystone, Barlowe Borland	United States	^[66]
I Am the Law	Alexander Hall	Edward G. Robinson, Barbara O'Neil, Wendy Barrie	United States	^[67]
Port of Shadows	Marcel Carné	Michèle Morgan, Jean Gabin, Michel Simon	France	Crime drama^[68]
A Slight Case of Murder	Lloyd Bacon	Edward G. Robinson, Jane Bryan, Allen Jenkins	United States	Crime comedy^[69]
They Drive by Night	Arthur B. Woods	Emlyn Williams, Ernest Thesiger, Anna Konstam	United Kingdom	^[70]
You and Me	Fritz Lang		United States	Crime comedy^[71]
Young Fugitives	John Rawlins		United States	Crime
	1939
Blackmail	H. C. Potter	Edward G. Robinson, Ruth Hussey, Gene Lockhart	United States	^[72]
Daybreak	Marcel Carné	Jean Gabin, Jules Berry, Arletty	France	Crime drama^[73]
Each Dawn I Die	William Keighley	James Cagney, George Raft, Jane Bryan	United States	^[74]
I Stole a Million	Frank Tuttle	George Raft, Claire Trevor	United States	^[75]
King of the Underworld	Lewis Seiler	Humphrey Bogart, James Stephenson, John Eldredge	United States	^[76]
Let Us Live	John Brahm		United States	^[77]
The Roaring Twenties	Raoul Walsh	James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Priscilla Lane	United States	^[78]
You Can't Get Away with Murder	Lewis Seiler	Humphrey Bogart, Gale Page, Billy Halop	United States	^[79]

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Big House: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
2. Web site: Born Reckless: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Brennan, Sandra.
3. Web site: The Cat Creeps: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
4. Web site: The Doorway to Hell: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Brennan, Sandra.
5. Web site: Manslaughter: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
6. Web site: Night Owls: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Garza, Janiss.
7. Web site: Raffles: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Williams, Karl.
8. Web site: The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Williams, Karl.
9. Web site: The Unholy Three: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
10. Web site: Blonde Crazy: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
11. Web site: City Streets: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
12. Web site: Daughter of the Dragon: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Brennan, Sandra.
13. Web site: Little Caesar: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Eder, Bruce.
14. Web site: Night Nurse: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Wollstein, Hans J..
15. Web site: The Public Enemy: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
16. Web site: Smart Money: Overview. Allmovie. August 19, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
17. Web site: Arsene Lupin: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010. Deming, Mark.
18. Web site: The Beast of the City: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010. Brennan, Sandra.
19. Web site: Fantômas: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
20. Web site: The Girl From Chicago: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010. Wollstein, Hans J..
21. Web site: Love Is a Racket: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010. Wollstein, Hans J..
22. Web site: The Mask of Fu Manchu: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010. Eder, Bruce.
23. Web site: Me and My Gal. Allmovie. March 19, 2023.
24. Web site: The Mouthpiece: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010. Brennan, Sandra.
25. Web site: La Nuit Du Carrefour: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
26. Web site: Scarface: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
27. Web site: Lady Killer (1933). Allmovie. October 31, 2012. Erickson, Hal.
28. Web site: The little Giant (1933). Allmovie. October 31, 2012. Wollstein, Hans J..
29. Web site: The Mayor of Hell: Overview. August 29, 2010. Brennan, Sandra.
30. Web site: The Midnight Club: Overview. August 29, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
31. Web site: Murders in the Zoo. October 31, 2012. Erickson, Hal.
32. Web site: Penthouse. October 31, 2012. Erickson, Hal.
33. Web site: Pick-Up: Overview. August 29, 2010. Brennan, Sandra.
34. Web site: Sin of Nora Moran. August 29, 2010. Ericson, Hal.
35. Web site: The Testament of Dr. Mabuse: Overview. October 31, 2012. Legare, Patrick.
36. Web site: La tête d'un homme: Overview. Allmovie. August 20, 2010.
37. Web site: Fog Over Frisco: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010.
38. Web site: Limehouse Blues: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010.
39. Web site: Manhattan Melodrama: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010.
40. Web site: Search for Beauty: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010.
41. Web site: Bulldog Jack: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
42. Web site: Crime and Punishment: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
43. Web site: Crime and Punishment: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
44. Web site: G-Men: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
45. Web site: Toni: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
46. Web site: The Whole Town's Talking: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Costello, Michael.
47. Web site: 15 Maiden Lane: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
48. Web site: Big Brown Eyes: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
49. Web site: The Crime of Monsieur Lange: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
50. Web site: Fury: Overview. Allmovie. August 29, 2010. Brenner, Paul.
51. Web site: The Petrified Forest: Overview. Allmovie. August 30, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
52. Web site: Reefer Madness (1936) - Louis Gasnier, Louis J. Gasnier, Herman Hertz | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie.
53. Web site: The Alibi:Overview. Allmovie. August 30, 2010. Rasmussen, Linda.
54. Web site: Black Legion:Overview. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Deming, Mark. https://archive.today/20120719195402/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/black-legion-v85215. July 19, 2012. dead.
55. Web site: Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo:Overview. Allmovie. August 30, 2010. Erickson, Hal.
56. Web site: Dead end. Allrovi. Erickson, Hal. November 23, 2011. https://archive.today/20120719135842/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/dead-end-v12692. July 19, 2012. dead.
57. Web site: Jump for Glory. Allmovie. March 19, 2023.
58. Web site: Marked Woman. Allrovi. Erickson, Hal. November 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120117162808/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/marked-woman-v31508. January 17, 2012. dead.
59. Web site: Pépé le Moko. Allrovi. Erickson, Hal. November 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110605091417/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/p%C3%A9p%C3%A9-le-moko-v37686. June 5, 2011. dead.
60. Web site: You Only Live Once. Allrovi. Erickson, Hal. November 23, 2011. https://archive.today/20120717075052/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/you-only-live-once-v55916. July 17, 2012. dead.
61. Web site: The Big House: Overview. Allrovi. August 19, 2010. Erickson, Hal. https://archive.today/20120719121853/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/algiers-v1457. July 19, 2012. dead.
62. Web site: The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Deming, Mark. https://web.archive.org/web/20120117160712/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/the-amazing-dr-clitterhouse-v83592. January 17, 2012. dead.
63. Web site: Angels With Dirty Faces. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Erickson, Hal. https://archive.today/20120717055630/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/angels-with-dirty-faces-v2391. July 17, 2012. dead.
64. Web site: La Bête Humaine. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Erickson, Hal. https://archive.today/20120717070602/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/la-b%C3%AAte-humaine-v27862. July 17, 2012. dead.
65. Web site: Crime School. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Brennan, Sandra. https://archive.today/20120718153544/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/crime-school-v88161. July 18, 2012. dead.
66. Web site: Dangerous to Know. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Brennan, Sandra. https://archive.today/20120718051250/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/dangerous-to-know-v88626. July 18, 2012. dead.
67. Web site: Dangerous to Know. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Erickson, Hal. https://archive.today/20120717202641/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/i-am-the-law-v24018. July 17, 2012. dead.
68. Web site: Port of Shadows. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Erickson, Hal. https://web.archive.org/web/20110614223245/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/port-of-shadows-v106403. June 14, 2011. dead.
69. Web site: A Slight Case of Murder. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Erickson, Hal. https://web.archive.org/web/20110910193312/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/a-slight-case-of-murder-v110601. September 10, 2011. dead.
70. Web site: They Drive by Night. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Hastings, Michael. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120126083727/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/they-drive-by-night-v113242. January 26, 2012.
71. Web site: You and Me. Allrovi. November 23, 2011. Betzold, Michael. https://archive.today/20120717140609/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/you-and-me-v117952. July 17, 2012. dead.
72. Web site: Blackmail. Allrovi. February 22, 2012. Deming, Mark. https://archive.today/20120717154019/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/blackmail-v85279. July 17, 2012. dead.
73. Web site: Le Jour se leve. Allrovi. February 22, 2012. Brenner, Paul. https://web.archive.org/web/20110614223053/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/le-jour-se-l%C3%A8ve-v28642. June 14, 2011. dead.
74. Web site: Each Dawn I Die. Allrovi. February 22, 2012. Brenner, Paul. https://archive.today/20120718110854/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/each-dawn-i-die-v15052. July 18, 2012. dead.
75. Web site: I Stole a Million. Allrovi. February 22, 2012. Brennen, Sandra. https://archive.today/20120722131731/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/i-stole-a-million-v96088. July 22, 2012. dead.
76. Web site: King of the Underworld. Allrovi. February 22, 2012. Wollstein, Hans J.. https://archive.today/20120721101050/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/king-of-the-underworld-v97798. July 21, 2012. dead.
77. Web site: Let Us Live. Allrovi. February 22, 2012. Brennan, Sandra. https://archive.today/20120720161535/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/let-us-live-v99415. July 20, 2012. dead.
78. Web site: Roaring Twenties. Allrovi. February 22, 2012. Butler, Craig. https://archive.today/20120717235201/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/the-roaring-twenties-v41622. July 17, 2012. dead.
79. Web site: You Can't Get Away with Murder. Allrovi. February 22, 2012. Brennan, Sandra. https://archive.today/20120721194716/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/you-cant-get-away-with-murder-v117977. July 21, 2012. dead.