Editing Angels with Dirty Faces (section)

===Initial reactions===
''Angels with Dirty Faces'' was met with critical acclaim upon release. [[Frank Nugent]], of ''[[The New York Times]]'', attended the world premiere in Nevada, and called the film a "savage melodrama" offering "Cagney at his best".<ref name=AbramsonReview>Abramson, p. 1551.</ref> The New York-based motion picture journal ''[[Harrison's Reports]]'' had similar views. In a review dated November 5, 1938, they called the film a "powerful gangster melodrama," and said it is "one of the most thrilling pictures produced in some time." The "acting, particularly by James Cagney, is brilliant".<ref name=HarrReport>Harrison Staff. "Angels with Dirty Faces", ''[[Harrison's Reports]]'', p. 179, published November 5, 1938. Retrieved December 8, 2015.</ref>

On the other hand, Hobe Morrison of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' was less enthused stating "On the strength of the Cagney–O'Brien combo, ''Angels'' should do fair business, but the picture itself is no bonfire. That 'Dead End' kid story has already been told too many times." and "Although the deathhouse scene itself is a harrowing one, that simulated cowardice angle, seems completely implausible...It's a novel twist to a commonplace story, but it's thoroughly hokey".<ref name=Variety1937>{{cite magazine|author=Hobe.|url=https://variety.com/1937/film/reviews/angels-with-dirty-faces-1200411713/|title=Film Reviews: 'Angels with Dirty Faces'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 26, 1938|page=13|access-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref>