A Criminal Is Born

A Criminal Is Born

1938 · 21 min · ★ 7.4 · Crime, Drama

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.

Directed by Leslie Fenton

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

TCM

Cast

Make it a double feature

1h 57m together

A Criminal Is Born

Boys Town

Both from Leslie Fenton.

More from Leslie FentonSee all →

The Public EnemyThe Public Enemy · 1931
The Public Enemy
★ 7.31931
MovieCrimeDrama
Two young Chicago hoodlums, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle, rise up from their poverty-stricken slum life to become petty thieves, bootleggers and cold-blooded killers. But with street notoriety and newfound wealth, the duo feels the heat from the cops and rival gangsters both. Despite his ruthless criminal reputation, Tom tries to remain connected to his family, however, gang warfare and the need for revenge eventually pull him away.
Thunder BelowThunder Below · 1932
Thunder Below
★ 7.01932
MovieDrama
Story of an unhappy wife of oil rigger who labors in a Central American oil field. The bored Susan falls in love with Walt's good friend Ken but keeps her husband in the dark about her feelings... until he's plunged into darkness for real when he loses his eyesight. Susan finds her attentions then wandering yet another man, Davis, and Ken urges her to return to Walt.
Lady KillerLady Killer · 1933
Lady Killer
★ 6.91933
MovieComedyCrime
An ex-gang member tries to resist his old cohorts' criminal influence after he suddenly becomes a Hollywood movie star.
Boys TownBoys Town · 1938
Boys Town
★ 6.81938
MovieDrama
Devout but iron-willed Father Flanagan leads a community called Boys Town, a different sort of juvenile detention facility where, instead of being treated as underage criminals, the boys are shepherded into making themselves better people. But hard-nosed petty thief and pool shark Whitey Marsh, the impulsive and violent younger brother of an imprisoned murderer, might be too much for the good father's tough-love system.
The Casino Murder CaseThe Casino Murder Case · 1935
The Casino Murder Case
★ 6.81935
MovieActionMystery
After socialite Lynn Llewellyn receives an anonymous threat, he is poisoned at his uncle's casino, and although he recovers, his wife is murdered by the same killer.
Whispering SmithWhispering Smith · 1948
Whispering Smith
★ 6.71948
MovieWestern
Smith is an iron-willed railroad detective. When his friend Murray is fired from the railroad and begins helping Rebstock wreck trains, Smith must go after him. He also seems to have an interest in Murray's wife (and vice versa).
The Famous Ferguson CaseThe Famous Ferguson Case · 1932
The Famous Ferguson Case
★ 6.61932
MovieCrimeDrama
A foreword warns against the peril of yellow journalism, and the story illustrates it by following events in the upstate New York town of Cornwall after prominant financier George Ferguson is killed. Two types of New York City journalists descend on Cornwall, one interested in facts, the other in getting sensational "news". Mrs. Ferguson is known to have been friendly with a local banker. The Fergusons quarrel the evening he is killed (by "burglars", his wife tells the police later), and she is arrested, spurred on by the "bad" journalists, who also manage to badger the banker's wife into the hospital. Meanwhile, young Bruce Foster runs the Cornwall Courier, and shows the big city reporters how to dig out real news while they attempt to subvert justice for their own ends.
The Last PerformanceThe Last Performance · 1929
The Last Performance
★ 6.51929
MovieDramaHorror
A middle-aged magician is in love with his beautiful young assistant. She, on the other hand, is in love with the magician's young protege, who turns out to be a bum and a thief.
The Strange Love of Molly LouvainThe Strange Love of Molly Louvain · 1932
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
★ 6.11932
MovieDramaCrime
A fast-talking reporter befriends a young woman and her male companion who are wanted for a policeman's shooting.
Two in the DarkTwo in the Dark · 1936
Two in the Dark
★ 6.11936
MovieCrimeDrama
When Mr. X wakes up in the city park with amnesia, bloody and apparently connected to a murder of a well-known producer, fast talking Marie Smith takes pity on him. They solve the case and discover his identity.
Streets of LaredoStreets of Laredo · 1949
Streets of Laredo
★ 6.01949
MovieWestern
Texas, 1878: cheerful outlaw-buddies Jim, Lorn and Wahoo rescue spunky orphan Rannie Carter from rustling racketeers, then are forced to separate. Lorn goes on to bigger and better robberies, while Jim and Wahoo are (at first reluctantly) maneuvered into joining the Texas Rangers. For friendship's sake, the three try to keep out of direct conflict, but a showdown begins to look inevitable. And Rannie, now grown into lovely young womanhood, must choose between Lorn and Jim
SaigonSaigon · 1947
Saigon
★ 6.01947
MovieCrimeDrama
After World War II Larry learns that his flying buddy Mike will only live a short time despite the efforts of the doctors. He takes on a profitable flying job for profiteers Maris to finance a good time for his buddy. As the plane takes off he shoves Maris' secretary Susan on board. When Mike falls for her, Larry tells her to play along for Mike's sake. She, of course, falls for Larry.
Star of MidnightStar of Midnight · 1935
Star of Midnight
★ 5.91935
MovieComedyMystery
When a dancer disappears from a theater, Clay Dalzell is asked to investigate, leading him on a trail of murder and deception.
The Golden FleecingThe Golden Fleecing · 1940
The Golden Fleecing
★ 5.91940
MovieCrimeComedy
A mild-mannered insurance salesman gets mixed up with gangsters.
Sworn EnemySworn Enemy · 1936
Sworn Enemy
★ 5.81936
MovieRomanceCrime
A law student poses as a fight promoter to catch a notorious gangster.
The Saint's VacationThe Saint's Vacation · 1941
The Saint's Vacation
★ 5.81941
MovieMysteryCrime
While on vacation, the Saint discovers a much-sought-after music box.

More Like This

Beautiful BeingsBeautiful Beings · 2022
Beautiful Beings
★ 7.02022
MovieDrama
A teenage boy, raised by a mother who considers herself psychic, takes a bullied kid into his group of violent misfits. As the group’s troubles escalate toward life-threatening situations, an inner voice awakens in the boy and, with the help of his mother and his new friend, he manages to find his own path.
The Scent of the NightThe Scent of the Night · 1998
The Scent of the Night
★ 7.31998
MovieDramaCrime
A former policeman turns full-time robber and goes on a downward spiral of crime in 1970s Rome.
Wild Boys of the RoadWild Boys of the Road · 1933
Wild Boys of the Road
★ 6.81933
MovieDrama
At the height of the Great Depression, Tommy's mother has been out of work for months when Eddie's father loses his job. Eager not to burden their parents, the two high school sophomores decide to hop the freight trains and look for work.
Odds Against TomorrowOdds Against Tomorrow · 1959
Odds Against Tomorrow
★ 6.91959
MovieCrimeDrama
An old-time crook plans a heist. When one of his two partners is found out to be a black man tensions flare.
Tough EnoughTough Enough · 2006
Tough Enough
★ 6.82006
MovieDramaThriller
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.
Once Were WarriorsOnce Were Warriors · 1994
Once Were Warriors
★ 7.41994
MovieDrama
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.
Bonnie and ClydeBonnie and Clyde · 1967
Bonnie and Clyde
★ 7.51967
MovieCrimeDrama
In the 1930s, bored waitress Bonnie Parker falls in love with an ex-con named Clyde Barrow, and together they start a violent crime spree throughout the country, stealing cars and robbing banks.
Bound by HonorBound by Honor · 1993
Bound by Honor
★ 8.21993
MovieCrimeDrama
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.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter