List of crime films of the 1930s

A list of crime films released in the 1930s.

Title	Director	Cast	Country	Notes
1930
The Big House	George W. Hill	Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Robert Montgomery		Prison film[1]
Born Reckless	John Ford, Andrew Bennison	Edmund Lowe, Catherine Dale Owen, Lee Tracy		[2]
The Cat Creeps	Rupert Julian, John Willard	Helen Twelvetrees, Raymond Hackett, Neil Hamilton		[3]
The Doorway to Hell	Archie Mayo	Charles Judels, Lew Ayres, James Cagney		[4]
Manslaughter	George Abbott	Claudette Colbert, Fredric March, Emma Dunn		Crime drama, prison film[5]
Night Owls	James Parrott	Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel		Crime comedy[6]
Raffles	Harry D'Abbadie D'Arrast, George Fitzmaurice	Ronald Colman, Kay Francis, David Torrence		[7]
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu	Rowland V. Lee	Warner Oland, Neil Hamilton, Jean Arthur		[8]
The Unholy Three	Jack Conway	Lila Lee, Elliott Nugent, Harry Earles		[9]
1931
Blonde Crazy	Roy Del Ruth	James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Louis Calhern		Gangster film[10]
City Streets	Rouben Mamoulian	Gary Cooper, Sylvia Sidney, Paul Lukas		[11]
Daughter of the Dragon	Lloyd Corrigan	Anna May Wong, Warner Oland, Sessue Hayakawa		[12]
Little Caesar	Mervyn LeRoy	Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Glenda Farrell		[13]
Night Nurse	Igor Auzins, William Wellman	Barbara Stanwyck, Ben Lyon, Joan Blondell		[14]
The Public Enemy	William Wellman	James Cagney, Edward Woods, Donald Cook		[15]
Smart Money	Alfred E. Green	Edward G. Robinson, Evelyn Knapp, James Cagney, Ralf Harolde		[16]
1932
Arsene Lupin	Jack Conway	John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Karen Morley		[17]
The Beast of the City	Charles J. Brabin	Walter Huston, Jean Harlow, Wallace Ford		[18]
Fantômas	Paul Fejos	Jean Galland, Thomy Bourdelle, Tania Fedor		[19]
The Girl From Chicago	Oscar Micheaux	Eunice Brooks, Starr Calloway, Minta Cato		[20]
Love Is a Racket	William Wellman	Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Ann Dvorak, Frances Dee		Crime drama[21]
The Mask of Fu Manchu	Charles J. Brabin, Charles Vidor, King Vidor	Boris Karloff, Lewis Stone, Karen Morley		[22]
The Mouthpiece	James Flood, Elliott Nugent	Warren William, Aline MacMahon, William Janney		[23]
Night at the Cross Roads	Jean Renoir	Pierre Renoir, Winna Winifred, Jean Gehret		[24]
Scarface	Howard Hawks	Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley		[25]
1933
Lady Killer	Roy Del Ruth	James Cagney, Mae Clarke, Leslie Fenton		Gangster film[26]
The Little Giant	Roy Del Ruth	Edward G. Robinson, Mary Astor, Helen Vinson		[27]
The Mayor of Hell	Archie Mayo	James Cagney, Madge Evans, Allen Jenkins		[28]
The Midnight Club	George Somnes, Alexander Hall	Clive Brook, George Raft, Helen Vinson		[29]
'Murders in the Zoo	Edward Sutherland	Charlie Ruggles, Lionell Atwill, Gail Patrick		[30]
Penthouse	W.S. Van Dyke	Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, Charles Butterworth		[31]
Pick-Up	Marion Gering	Sylvia Sidney, George Raft, William Harrigan		[32]
The Sin of Nora Moran	Philip Goldstone	Zita Johann, Alan Dinehart, Paul Cavanagh		[33]
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse	Fritz Lang	Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Otto Wernicke, Gustav Diessl		[34]
La tête d'un homme	Julien Duvivier	Gina Manès, Harry Baur, Valery Inkijinoff		[35]
1934
Fog Over Frisco	William Dieterle, Daniel Reed	Bette Davis, Donald Woods, Margaret Lindsay		[36]
Limehouse Blues	Alexander Hall	George Raft, Jean Parker, Anna May Wong		[37]
Manhattan Melodrama	W.S. Van Dyke	Clark Gable, William Powell, Myrna Loy		Crime drama[38]
Search for Beauty	Erle C. Kenton	Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Ida Lupino, Toby Wing		[39]
1935
Bulldog Jack	Walter Forde	Jack Hulbert, Fay Wray, Ralph Richardson		[40]
Crime and Punishment	Pierre Chenal	Harry Baur, Pierre Blanchar, Madeleine Ozeray		Crime drama[41]
Crime and Punishment	Josef von Sternberg	Edward Arnold, Peter Lorre, Marian Marsh		Crime drama[42]
G Men	William Keighley	James Cagney, Margaret Lindsay, Lloyd Nolan		[43]
Toni	Jean Renoir	Charles Blavette, Celia Montalván, Jenny Hélia		Crime drama[44]
The Whole Town's Talking	John Ford	Edward G. Robinson, Jean Arthur, Wallace Ford		Crime comedy[45]
1936
15 Maiden Lane	Allan Dwan	Claire Trevor, Cesar Romero, Douglas Fowley		[46]
Big Brown Eyes	Raoul Walsh	Joan Bennett, Cary Grant, Walter Pidgeon		[47]
The Crime of Monsieur Lange	Jean Renoir	Jules Berry, René Lefèvre, Sylvia Bataille		Crime drama[48]
Fury	Fritz Lang	Spencer Tracy, Sylvia Sidney, Walter Abel		Crime drama[49]
The Petrified Forest	Archie Mayo	Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart		Crime drama[50]
1937
L'alibi	Pierre Chenal	Louis Jouvet, Erich von Stroheim, Albert Préjean		[51]
Black Legion	Archie Mayo	Humphrey Bogart, Dick Foran, Erin O'Brien-Moore		[52]
Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo	Eugene J. Forde	Warner Oland, Keye Luke, Virginia Field		[53]
Dead End	William Wyler	Sylvia Sidney, Joel McCrea, Humphrey Bogart		[54]
Marked Woman	Lloyd Bacon	Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Isabel Jewell		[55]
Pépé le Moko	Julien Duvivier	Jean Gabin, Mireille Balin, Line Noro		Gangster film[56]
You Only Live Once	Fritz Lang	Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda, Barton MacLane		Crime drama[57]
1938
Algiers	John Cromwell	Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, Sigrid Gurie		Gangster film[58]
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse	Anatole Litvak	Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor, Humphrey Bogart		Crime comedy[59]
Angels with Dirty Faces	Michael Curtiz	James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart		Crime drama[60]
La Bête Humaine	Jean Renoir	Jean Gabin, Simone Simon, Julien Carette		Crime drama[61]
Crime School	Lewis Seiler	Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hall		Juvenile delinquency film[62]
Dangerous to Know	Robert Florey	Stanley Blystone, Barlowe Borland		[63]
I Am the Law	Alexander Hall	Edward G. Robinson, Barbara O'Neil, Wendy Barrie		[64]
Port of Shadows	Marcel Carné	Michèle Morgan, Jean Gabin, Michel Simon		Crime drama[65]
A Slight Case of Murder	Lloyd Bacon	Edward G. Robinson, Jane Bryan, Allen Jenkins		Crime comedy[66]
They Drive by Night	Arthur B. Woods	Emlyn Williams, Ernest Thesiger, Anna Konstam		[67]
You and Me	Fritz Lang	Sylvia Sidney, George Raft, Robert Cummings		Crime comedy[68]
1939
Blackmail	H.C. Potter	Edward G. Robinson, Ruth Hussey, Gene Lockhart		[69]
Daybreak	Marcel Carné	Jean Gabin, Jules Berry, Arletty		Crime drama[70]
Each Dawn I Die	William Keighley	James Cagney, George Raft, Jane Bryan		[71]
I Stole a Million	Frank Tuttle	George Raft, Claire Trevor		[72]
King of the Underworld	Lewis Seiler	Humphrey Bogart, James Stephenson, John Eldredge		[73]
Let Us Live	John Brahm	Maureen O'Sullivan, Henry Fonda, Ralph Bellamy		[74]
The Roaring Twenties	Raoul Walsh	James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Priscilla Lane		[75]
You Can't Get Away with Murder	Lewis Seiler	Humphrey Bogart, Gale Page, Billy Halop		[76]

Notes

1. Erickson, Hal. "The Big House: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
2. Brennan, Sandra. "Born Reckless: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
3. Erickson, Hal. "The Cat Creeps: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
4. Brennan, Sandra. "The Doorway to Hell: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
5. Erickson, Hal. "Manslaughter: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
6. Garza, Janiss. "Night Owls: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
7. Williams, Karl. "Raffles: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
8. Williams, Karl. "The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
9. Erickson, Hal. "The Unholy Three: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
10. Erickson, Hal. "Blonde Crazy: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
11. Erickson, Hal. "City Streets: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
12. Brennan, Sandra. "Daughter of the Dragon: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
13. Eder, Bruce. "Little Caesar: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
14. Wollstein, Hans J. "Night Nurse: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
15. Erickson, Hal. "The Public Enemy: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
16. Erickson, Hal. "Smart Money: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
17. Deming, Mark. "Arsene Lupin: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
18. Brennan, Sandra. "The Beast of the City: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
19. Erickson, Hal. "Fantômas: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
20. Wollstein, Hans J. "The Girl From Chicago: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
21. Wollstein, Hans J. "Love Is a Racket: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
22. Eder, Bruce. "The Mask of Fu Manchu: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
23. Brennan, Sandra. "The Mouthpiece: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
24. Erickson, Hal. "La Nuit Du Carrefour: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
25. Erickson, Hal. "Scarface: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
26. Erickson, Hal. "Lady Killer (1933)". Allmovie. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
27. Wollstein, Hans J. "The little Giant (1933)". Allmovie. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
28. Brennan, Sandra. "The Mayor of Hell: Overview". Retrieved August 29, 2010.
29. Erickson, Hal. "The Midnight Club: Overview". Retrieved August 29, 2010.
30. Erickson, Hal. "Murders in the Zoo". Retrieved October 31, 2012.
31. Erickson, Hal. "Penthouse". Retrieved October 31, 2012.
32. Brennan, Sandra. "Pick-Up: Overview". Retrieved August 29, 2010.
33. Ericson, Hal. "Sin of Nora Moran". Retrieved August 29, 2010.
34. Legare, Patrick. "The Testament of Dr. Mabuse: Overview". Retrieved October 31, 2012.
35. "La tête d'un homme: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
36. "Fog Over Frisco: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
37. "Limehouse Blues: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
38. "Manhattan Melodrama: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
39. "Search for Beauty: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
40. Erickson, Hal. "Bulldog Jack: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
41. Erickson, Hal. "Crime and Punishment: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
42. Erickson, Hal. "Crime and Punishment: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
43. Erickson, Hal. "G-Men: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
44. Erickson, Hal. "Toni: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
45. Costello, Michael. "The Whole Town's Talking: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
46. Erickson, Hal. "15 Maiden Lane: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
47. Erickson, Hal. "Big Brown Eyes: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
48. Erickson, Hal. "The Crime of Monsieur Lange: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
49. Brenner, Paul. "Fury: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
50. Erickson, Hal. "The Petrified Forest: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
51. Rasmussen, Linda. "The Alibi:Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
52. Deming, Mark. "Black Legion:Overview". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
53. Erickson, Hal. "Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo:Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
54. Erickson, Hal. "Dead end". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
55. Erickson, Hal. "Marked Woman". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
56. Erickson, Hal. "Pépé le Moko". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
57. Erickson, Hal. "You Only Live Once". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
58. Erickson, Hal. "The Big House: Overview". Allrovi. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
59. Deming, Mark. "The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
60. Erickson, Hal. "Angels With Dirty Faces". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
61. Erickson, Hal. "La Bête Humaine". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
62. Brennan, Sandra. "Crime School". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
63. Brennan, Sandra. "Dangerous to Know". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
64. Erickson, Hal. "Dangerous to Know". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
65. Erickson, Hal. "Port of Shadows". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
66. Erickson, Hal. "A Slight Case of Murder". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
67. Hastings, Michael. "They Drive by Night". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
68. Betzold, Michael. "You and Me". Allrovi. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
69. Deming, Mark. "Blackmail". Allrovi. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
70. Brenner, Paul. "Le Jour se leve". Allrovi. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
71. Brenner, Paul. "Each Dawn I Die". Allrovi. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
72. Brennen, Sandra. "I Stole a Million". Allrovi. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
73. Wollstein, Hans J. "King of the Underworld". Allrovi. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
74. Brennan, Sandra. "Let Us Live". Allrovi. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
75. Butler, Craig. "Roaring Twenties". Allrovi. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
76. Brennan, Sandra. "You Can't Get Away with Murder". Allrovi. Retrieved February 22, 2012.