City for Conquest

City for Conquest

Year: 1940

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Directors: Anatole Litvak, Jean Negulesco

DramaCrimeRomanceMoving relationship storiesUnderdog fighting and boxing stories

Fueled by the fire and fury of its two stars, the film follows Danny Kenny and Peggy Nash, sweethearts struggling through poverty in New York City. When Peggy breaks off their engagement in hopes of a better life, Danny pursues a championship boxing career while she becomes a dancer with a sleazy partner. Tragedy may reunite them.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – City for Conquest (1940)

Explore the full timeline and setting of City for Conquest (1940). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

The story unfolds during the interwar era and the Great Depression, a time of economic strain and resilience in urban America. Boxing, dance, and music offer avenues for escape and upward mobility amid hardship. The era’s social dynamics and aspirations color the characters’ dreams and conflicts.

Location

New York

New York serves as the backdrop, spanning the city’s crowded neighborhoods, bustling dance halls, and gritty boxing rings. The film paints a portrait of a metropolis where opportunity and hardship coexist, driving the characters’ ambitions. From street-level bodegas to the gleaming stages of showbiz, the city itself feels like a living force shaping every choice.

🗽 City 🌆 Urban life 🎭 Arts & entertainment

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:38

Main Characters – City for Conquest (1940)

Meet the key characters of City for Conquest (1940), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Danny Kenny (James Cagney)

A gifted boxer who climbs from the street-level hustle of New York to the brink of world title contention. He fights under the alias Young Samson to fund his brother’s education and to pursue his own ambitions in the ring. After a brutal loss caused by cheating, he quits boxing due to damaged eyesight, and recalibrates his life by opening a newsstand while supporting his brother’s musical talents. He and Peggy ultimately rekindle their relationship, guided by a shared love of the city and their memories.

🥊 Boxer 💪 Determined 🗽 New Yorker

Peggy Nash (Ann Sheridan)

A talented dancer with dreams of stardom who is drawn into the showbiz world and into a relationship with Danny. Her career arc intersects with romance and power dynamics, including a manipulation by Murray and the strain of choosing between love and professional ambition. Her path is marked by resilience, and she ultimately reconnects with Danny, finding a way to balance art and love.

💃 Dancer 🎨 Artist 💔 Heartbreak survivor

Murray Burns (Anthony Quinn)

A domineering dancing champion who asserts control over Peggy and undermines Danny’s relationship. His presence exposes gender power dynamics and the coercive behaviors some men wield in pursuit of control within the entertainment world. His actions drive much of the conflict and emotional stakes in the story.

🧭 Controlling 💼 Promoter 🗝️ Dominant

Eddie Kenny (Arthur Kennedy)

Danny’s younger brother, a gifted musician with ambitions of his own. He starts as a student in need of support and becomes a composer, dedicating a symphony about New York to Danny. Eddie’s journey from aspiration to artistic achievement anchors the family’s enduring bond and serves as a counterpoint to Danny’s boxing career.

🎶 Composer 🎼 Musician 🧠 Creative

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:38

Major Themes – City for Conquest (1940)

Explore the central themes of City for Conquest (1940), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🥊 Boxing

Boxing is more than sport in this story; it represents a path to status, money, and security. Danny’s rise through the welterweight ranks exposes him to fame, danger, and the temptations of success. The title fight sequence demonstrates how talent can be exploited or betrayed, leaving lasting consequences. The sport’s toll—physical, financial, and emotional—shapes the arc of Danny’s life.

💔 Love

Romance and loyalty drive the central relationship between Danny and Peggy. Peggy’s ambitions pull her toward stardom, straining their bond and exposing vulnerability to manipulation. Murray’s domineering behavior and abuse illuminate the risks faced by women in showbiz. Their eventual, hard-won reconciliation offers a glimmer of hope amid hardship.

🎭 Showbiz

Dreams of performance propel Peggy and Eddie, exposing the glittering exterior of show business alongside its demanding realities. The pursuit of fame is depicted as glamorous yet exacting, testing relationships and personal integrity. Carnegie Hall and other milestones symbolize the culmination of artistic striving and family support.

🕊️ Redemption

After the champion’s cheating costs him the title, Danny seeks a new path, turning to a life away from the ring. The narrative threads Eddie’s composer dream and Peggy’s career into a hopeful future, culminating in a renewed bond between Danny and Peggy. The ending suggests resilience and the possibility of rebuilding love and purpose after betrayal and loss.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:38

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Unlock the Full Story of City for Conquest

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City for Conquest Summary

Read a complete plot summary of City for Conquest, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

City for Conquest Summary

City for Conquest Timeline

Track the full timeline of City for Conquest with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

City for Conquest Timeline

More About City for Conquest

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City for Conquest (1940) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

City for Conquest (1940) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

City for Conquest (1940) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow