A Criminal Is Born

Jun 5, 1938

0h 21m

★ 8.0

Overview

An entry in MGM's Crime Does Not Pay series, this short tells the true story of how a young man, ignored by his parents, gets into a gang and starts a crime spree which leads to murder.

Genres

Crime

Drama

Production Companies

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

A Criminal Is Born Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Henry

George P. Breakston

Rodney 'Rod'

David Durand

Tom

Norman Phillips Jr.

Jimmy Wheeler

Warren McCollum

Frank Wheeler

Joseph Crehan

Martha Wheeler

Dorothy Vaughan

Cafe Owner Joe

Eddy Waller

First Shooting Victim

Ben Taggart

Cop

Harry Strang

Druggist (uncredited)

Harry C. Bradley

Rod's Father (uncredited)

Eddy Chandler

Judge Charles Edwin Marshall (uncredited)

William Stack

Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on half-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo. It opens in 1972, as the three are members of an East L.A. gang known as the "Vatos Locos", and the story focuses on how a violent crime and the influence of narcotics alter their lives. Miklo is incarcerated and sent to San Quentin, where he makes a "home" for himself. Cruz becomes an exceptional artist, but a heroin addiction overcomes him with tragic results. Paco becomes a cop and an enemy to his "carnal", Miklo.

5.5

7 Seconds

Jun 28, 2005

When an experienced thief accidentally makes off with a Van Gogh, his partner is kidnapped by gangsters in pursuit of the painting, forcing the criminal to hatch a rescue plan.

6.5

The Principal

Sep 18, 1987

Burglary. Drugs. Assault. Rape. The students at Brandel High are more than new Principal Rick Latimer bargained for. Gangs fight to control the school using knives - even guns - when they have to. When Latimer and the head of security try to clean up the school and stop the narcotics trade, they run up against a teenage mafia. A violent confrontation on the campus leads to a deadly showdown with the drug dealer's gang, and one last chance for Latimer to save his career... and his life.

7.1

To Live and Die in L.A.

Nov 1, 1985

When his longtime partner on the force is killed, reckless U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance vows revenge, setting out to nab dangerous counterfeit artist Eric Masters.

5.2

Full Speed

Sep 25, 1996

A brief extract of four kids' lives somewhere in France. Quentin, who won a writers contest and now pays more attention to his career as an author than to his friends, beautiful Julie, his girl-friend, much more mature than she looks, falling in love with Quentin's very best friend Jimmy, who is kind of stuck in his unability of self-expression and grown up under bad social circumstances. And there is the shy boy Samir, exiled from Algeria, who lost his "brother" and only friend some time ago. Samir heavily falls in love with Quentin, but he can't handle it...

6.8

Tough Enough

Mar 9, 2006

From the youth directed novel of the same name by Greogor Tressnow comes a film by Detlev Buck that is a realistic portrait of life in the section of Berlin called Neukölln. It’s about power and weakness, delinquents and victims, and the difficulties a 15-year-old faces in a poor and criminal environment.

7.5

Bonnie and Clyde

Aug 13, 1967

In the 1930s, bored European-American waitress Bonnie Parker falls in love with a European-American ex-con named Clyde Barrow and together they start a violent crime spree through the country, stealing cars and robbing banks.

7.4

Once Were Warriors

Sep 2, 1994

In a violent relationship, it takes a mother’s strength to save herself and her children from the man she loved. Once Were Warriors is a violent love story set against a contemporary urban backdrop.

6.8

The Thomas Crown Affair

Jun 26, 1968

Young businessman Thomas Crown is bored and decides to plan a robbery and assigns a professional agent with the right information to the job. However, Crown is soon betrayed yet cannot blow his cover because he’s in love.

8.3

A Brighter Summer Day

Jul 27, 1991

A boy experiences first love, friendships and injustices growing up in 1960s Taiwan.

No Image Available

0.0

I pavoni

Mar 18, 1994

No overview available.

6.5

Rodents

Sep 12, 1999

The world of Salvador, a young and naive petty thief is changed by the arrival of his cousin Angel, an ex-convict in search of easy money, and with a hideout. Salvador gets wrapped up in Angel's twisted dealings in an attempt to escape from his suffocating family, dragging along his family and friends, in his criminal path. Where will this all lead?

5.0

Dealer

Oct 14, 2021

Fourteen-year-old drug dealer Johnny is in a home for young people. When he learns that he cannot go home at weekends any longer, he asks one of his customers, famous successful actor Antony, to be his weekend guardian.

7.1

Crime Wave

Oct 22, 1953

Reformed parolee Steve Lacey is caught in the middle when a wounded former cellmate seeks him out for shelter. The other two former cellmates then attempt to force him into doing a bank job.

10.0

F-Stops

Mar 6, 2021

Gabe has a burning fire in him to make his mark on Hollywood with his crime spree movie, but no one wants to give him funding. After a chance encounter with a thief named Gideon, Gabe decides to shoot his movie guerilla-style, robbing convenience stores, filming the whole thing. There's just one little problem; Gideon has been keeping the money (hey, old habits die hard). Now the filmmakers are wanted felons, with the police hot on their trail.

6.0

While America Sleeps

Apr 14, 1939

An episode in the "Crime Does Not Pay" series. Dave Miller, an aircraft plant worker, is actually selling secret bomber plans to foreign agents. United States Intelligence Department agents plan to trap him and the spies he works for.

7.0

Think First

Sep 8, 1939

Episode 24 of the Crime Does Not Pay series. Margie Smith (Laraine Day) works as a waitress at a drive in restaurant. She likes to date and look nice but on her salary, she can't keep up with everyone else. However, a friend shows her that stealing is easy, cool and lets you dress like success. At first, it works out just fine, but remember--this is a Crime Does Not Pay film and you KNOW she'll soon get caught and prosecuted.