Warner Bros. released Angels with Dirty Faces in 1938, with Michael Curtiz directing. The film stars James Cagney, Pat O’Brien, Humphrey Bogart, and Ann Sheridan. It follows two childhood friends who grow up on opposite sides of the law — one becomes a hardened gangster, the other a priest.
Ann Sheridan plays Laury Martin, Rocky Sullivan’s childhood friend. She knew him before crime defined him, and that shared history gives their scenes a weight that sets the film apart from a standard gangster picture.
Sheridan’s chemistry with Cagney is one of the film’s strongest elements. Their scenes together crackle with unspoken tension. Rocky still carries feelings for Laury, and she for him — but her loyalty to Pat O’Brien’s character keeps any romance out of reach.
Sheridan brings real emotional range to Laury. She plays the joy of reconnecting with an old friend, the sharp wit of their back-and-forth banter, and the frustration of watching Rocky slide deeper into violence — all with clear control and conviction.
Laury is not a passive character. She pushes back against Rocky directly, and those confrontation scenes are where Sheridan’s performance is at its most compelling. She holds her ground against Cagney’s intense screen presence without flinching.
By 1938, Sheridan was building the reputation that would soon earn her the nickname “The Oomph Girl.” Her role in Angels with Dirty Faces showed she was more than a screen presence — she was a skilled dramatic actress.
The film received wide praise and earned Cagney an Academy Award nomination. Sheridan’s supporting work was a key part of why the emotional core of the story landed as strongly as it did.
