Back Door to Heaven - Production & Contact Info

Back Door to Heaven (1939)
Approved
85 min | Crime, Drama

Back Door to Heaven (1939)

Approved

85 min | Crime, Drama

Little Frankie Rogers lives on the wrong side of the tracks; his father is a drunkard and his mother is unable to support the family. After stealing a harmonica to play in his grammar school graduation recital, Frankie is sent to reform ...See moreLittle Frankie Rogers lives on the wrong side of the tracks; his father is a drunkard and his mother is unable to support the family. After stealing a harmonica to play in his grammar school graduation recital, Frankie is sent to reform school, even though his teacher, Miss Williams, and classmate Carol Evans are convinced that he is a good boy. Frankie goes to reform school with dreams of leading a decent life, but those dreams are shattered when he is sentenced to the state penitentiary for slugging a trusty who was cruel to a fellow prisoner. His term completed, Frankie decides to go home to St. Mary, Ohio, and is accompanied by Jud Mason and Bert "The Mouse" Gatto, two friends from prison. Frankie finds that St. Mary has changed, however, and decides to move to Cleveland, where Carol has a struggling career as a singer. Carol convinces Frankie to settle down in Cleveland and get a job, but his plans go awry when, returning home one evening after a date with Carol, he learns that Jud and The Mouse have gone to rob a restaurant. Frankie rushes to stop them, but is too late, and arrives just as a man is killed. Frankie refuses to let Carol testify in his behalf and is convicted and sentenced to death. Meanwhile, Charley Smith, the only classmate of Frankie's who has become financially successful, invites his old schoolmates to return to St. Mary for a reunion. Under a cloud of gloom, the class reassembles and Carol and former classmate John Shelley beg Charley to help Frankie, but he smugly refuses. Hearing of the reunion, Frankie escapes from his cell and speeds home, bursting into the schoolroom just as Carol denounces Charley for his lack of compassion. After urging Carol to forgive Charley, Frankie bids farewell to his old schoolmates and leaves the building. Moments later, the sound of gun shots signal Frankie's death. See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
35 cast members

Name	Known for
Jimmy Lydon Frankie Rogers Frankie Rogers See fewer	Vigilante Force (1976)
Anita Magee Carol Evans Carol Evans See fewer	Back Door to Heaven (1939)
Raymond Roe John Shelley John Shelley See fewer	The Major and the Minor (1942)
William Redfield Charley Smith Charley Smith See fewer	One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Kenneth LeRoy Bob Hale Bob Hale See fewer	The Pajama Game (1957)
David Johnson Wallace Kishler Wallace Kishler See fewer	Back Door to Heaven (1939)
William Harrigan Frankie's Father Frankie's Father See fewer	The Invisible Man (1933)
Jane Seymour Frankie's Mother Frankie's Mother See fewer	Tom, Dick and Harry (1941)
Aline MacMahon Miss Williams Miss Williams See fewer	Kind Lady (1935)
Alfred Webster Sheriff Kramer Sheriff Kramer See fewer	Back Door to Heaven (1939)
Robert Vivian George Spelvin George Spelvin See fewer	La belle Russe (1919)
Robert Wildhack Mr. Herzing Mr. Herzing See fewer	Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
Hugh Cameron Warden Warden See fewer	One Heavenly Night (1930)
Wallace Ford Frankie Rogers Frankie Rogers See fewer	Freaks (1932)
Iris Adrian Sugar, Burlesque Dancer Sugar, Burlesque Dancer See fewer	The Odd Couple (1968)
Patricia Ellis Carol Evans Carol Evans See fewer	Block-Heads (1938)
Van Heflin John Shelley John Shelley See fewer	Shane (1953)
Douglas McMullen Wallace Kishler Wallace Kishler See fewer	Back Door to Heaven (1939)
George J. Lewis Bob Hale (as George Lewis) Bob Hale (as George Lewis) See fewer	Zorro's Black Whip (1944)
Bruce Evans Charley Smith Charley Smith See fewer	The Prisoner of Swing (1938)
Stuart Erwin Jud Mason Jud Mason See fewer	Before Dawn (1933)
Bert Frohman Bert Gatto - the Mouse Bert Gatto - the Mouse See fewer	Paul Revere, Jr. (1933)
Georgette Harvey Mrs. Hamilton Mrs. Hamilton See fewer	The Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair (1939)
Helen Christian Mrs. Charley Smith Mrs. Charley Smith See fewer	Zorro Rides Again (1937)
George M. Carleton Judge (uncredited) Judge (uncredited) See fewer	Just Off Broadway (1942)
Jack Cheatham Police Officer (uncredited) Police Officer (uncredited) See fewer	A Fig Leaf for Eve (1944)
Edward Earle Judge (uncredited) Judge (uncredited) See fewer	The Wind (1928)
Joe Garry Reform School Superintendant (uncredited) Reform School Superintendant (uncredited) See fewer
William K. Howard Prosecutor (uncredited) Prosecutor (uncredited) See fewer	Good Intentions (1930)
Jack Irwin Convict Throwing Soap (uncredited) Convict Throwing Soap (uncredited) See fewer	Gun Cargo (1949)
Charles Jordan Cab Driver (uncredited) Cab Driver (uncredited) See fewer	Queen Esther (1948)
James Millican Convict in Baseball Game (uncredited) Convict in Baseball Game (uncredited) See fewer	Winchester '73 (1950)
James Seay Juror (uncredited) Juror (uncredited) See fewer	What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
Johnnie Walker Trustee (uncredited) Trustee (uncredited) See fewer	The Spirit of the USA (1924)
Robert B. Williams Nightclub Owner (uncredited) Nightclub Owner (uncredited) See fewer	The Bat (1959)