City for Conquest

City for Conquest is a 1940 American epic drama film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring James Cagney, Ann Sheridan and Arthur Kennedy. The film is based on the 1936 novel of the same name by Aben Kandel. The supporting cast features Elia Kazan, Anthony Quinn, Donald Crisp, Frank McHugh, Frank Craven and Lee Patrick.

A vagabond arrives in New York and is instantly enamored with the city. Traveling through the poorer side of town, he meets Danny Kenny, who shows a talent for boxing but does not aspire to become a professional fighter. Danny's girlfriend Peggy is a skilled dancer who dreams of becoming a star.

Years later, despite once having won a New York Golden Gloves title, Danny takes a job as a truck driver. To fund his brother Eddie's tuition at a music school, Danny begins to box professionally under the name of Young Samson. He quickly rises through the welterweight ranks to become a title contender.

One night, while at a dance club with Danny, Peggy is swayed by Murray Burns, a local dancing champion. Murray asks Peggy to become his professional dance partner, insulting Danny in the process. Peggy agrees but soon learns that Murray is a domineering man who constantly tries to control her life and even sexually abuses her.

Just before their wedding, Peggy rejects Danny in a letter, as her dancing career is advancing rapidly. Embittered by Peggy's change of mind, Danny continues to thrive in the ring and earns a chance to fight for the world welterweight title. During the title fight, Danny gains the upper hand. However, the champion cheats by deliberately blinding Danny with rosin-dusted gloves. While Peggy listens to the fight on the radio, Danny takes a severe beating and loses. Peggy becomes so distraught that she is unable to take the stage that night. Her career as a successful dancer ends, and she is reduced to dancing in local shows for low wages.

Danny quits boxing because of his damaged eyesight and opens a newsstand with help from his manager, gaining many regular customers. Eddie becomes a successful composer of Broadway songs, but his true love is instrumental music. Danny persuades Eddie to pursue his true calling and continue to work on creating a symphony about New York City. Eddie dedicates his first major symphony at Carnegie Hall to Danny, who proudly listens to the performance on the radio from his newsstand. Sensing Danny's soul in the music, Peggy decides to talk to him despite believing that he is still angry at her. At the newsstand, the two tearfully profess their love for each other and decide to resume their relationship.

George Raft was originally intended to appear opposite Cagney, but Anthony Quinn played his part in the film.

The tramp who appears and narrates the film is portrayed by Frank Craven as a sort of urban parody of his role as the stage manager in Our Town, which he had filmed just before City for Conquest.