Angels Over Broadway (1940) in Color — Starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. & Rita Hayworth

Angels Over Broadway (1940) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the brilliant and witty drama Angels Over Broadway (1940) Colorized, a unique and stylish film written and co-directed by the legendary Ben Hecht, starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as a charming con man who joins forces with a faded playwright and a beautiful nightclub girl played by Rita Hayworth to save a desperate embezzler from suicide in a single fateful night on the streets of Manhattan, now available for purchase in stunning color for just €15.00. This digitally enhanced version brings the moody atmosphere and sparkling dialogue of this sophisticated urban drama to vivid new life. Own this DRM-free digital download today.

Plot Summary

The story unfolds over a single dramatic night in Manhattan, beginning when Bill O’Brien, a charming and fast-talking con man with a golden tongue and an empty wallet, encounters Charles Engle, a meek and desperate accountant who has embezzled three thousand dollars from his employer and is contemplating suicide rather than face the consequences of his crime. Bill sees an opportunity in Engle’s desperation and devises an elaborate plan to take the man to a crooked poker game where the embezzled money can be multiplied to cover the theft.

Bill recruits two allies for his scheme: Gene Gibbons, a once-brilliant playwright now drowning in alcohol and self-pity, who will provide the intellectual strategy for the poker game; and Nina Barona, a beautiful and world-weary nightclub performer who will serve as the glamorous distraction to keep the other players off balance. Each of the four characters carries personal burdens and broken dreams into this night of desperate gambling.

As the evening progresses through smoky nightclubs, rain-slicked streets, and tense card games, the relationships between the four characters deepen and shift. Gene rediscovers his creative fire and his will to live through the excitement of the night’s adventure. Nina sees in Bill the possibility of something real beneath his con-man facade. Engle discovers courage he never knew he possessed. And Bill himself begins to question whether saving Engle might be more important than profiting from him.

The poker game builds to an extraordinary climax that tests the nerve, intelligence, and moral character of all four participants, as they risk everything on a single night of cards, conversation, and the fragile hope that people can be better than their worst moments. The resolution brings not just the answer to whether the money will be recovered, but a deeper reckoning with the value of human connection and second chances.

Cast & Crew

Director: Ben Hecht, Lee Garmes

Stars: Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Bill O’Brien, Rita Hayworth as Nina Barona, Thomas Mitchell as Gene Gibbons, John Qualen as Charles Engle, George Watts as Hopper, Ralph Theodore as Dutch

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. brings his trademark sophistication and charm to the fast-talking con man, while Thomas Mitchell delivers a towering performance as the alcoholic playwright finding redemption. Rita Hayworth is luminous as the nightclub girl discovering her own worth, and John Qualen is heartbreaking as the desperate embezzler.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The colorization of Angels Over Broadway transforms this moody urban drama into a visually rich nocturnal experience — the warm amber glow of nightclub interiors, the green felt of the poker table under harsh overhead light, the slick blue-black of rain-wet Manhattan streets reflecting neon signs, the smoky golden haze of late-night bars, Rita Hayworth’s radiant beauty against the dark backdrop of the city night, the varied fabrics and textures of fashionable 1940s clothing, and the dramatic interplay of light and shadow in Lee Garmes’ stunning cinematography all gain new atmosphere and depth. Now also available in colour. Buy Angels Over Broadway (1940) Colorized today for €15.00 and own this brilliant urban drama in a DRM-free format you can enjoy forever.

Historical Significance

Angels Over Broadway is one of the most personal films of the legendary Ben Hecht, who wrote, produced, and co-directed this love letter to the night people of Manhattan. Hecht, arguably the greatest screenwriter in Hollywood history with credits including Scarface, The Front Page, and Notorious, earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for this film. Co-director Lee Garmes was one of Hollywood’s finest cinematographers, whose work on Shanghai Express and several other classics earned him an Oscar. The film captures Manhattan nightlife with an authenticity and poetry rarely matched in American cinema, and represents a critical step in Rita Hayworth’s ascent to stardom. Through colorization, this unique and brilliant piece of American cinema is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes, professional AI-assisted colorization
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: Approximately 80 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who wrote Angels Over Broadway?
A: The film was written by Ben Hecht, one of the greatest screenwriters in Hollywood history. His screenplay received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and his sparkling, witty dialogue is one of the film’s greatest pleasures.

Q: Does the whole film take place in one night?
A: Yes, the story unfolds over a single dramatic night in Manhattan, following four desperate characters through nightclubs, poker games, and rain-soaked streets in a real-time narrative that builds incredible suspense and emotional intensity.

Q: Is this a film noir?
A: Angels Over Broadway is often classified as an early film noir, with its nighttime urban setting, morally ambiguous characters, beautiful cinematography, and themes of desperation and redemption. It anticipates many of the genre’s key characteristics.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in HD 720p resolution, compatible with virtually all modern devices and media players.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
A: Yes, your purchase is completely DRM-free. You own the file outright and can watch it on any device without restrictions or recurring fees.

Q: How quickly will I receive the download?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment is confirmed. You can begin watching Angels Over Broadway (1940) Colorized within minutes of your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Maltese Falcon (1941)
• The Big Sleep (1946)
• Night and the City (1950)
• The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
• Nightmare Alley (1947)