City for Conquest

City for Conquest

Year: 1940

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Directors: Anatole Litvak, Jean Negulesco

DramaCrimeRomance

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.

City for Conquest (1940) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at City for Conquest (1940) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the relentless rhythm of 1930s New York, the city itself feels like a living character—a sprawling canvas of bustling streets, smoky clubs, and cramped tenements where dreams are both forged and shattered. The film captures the gritty optimism of a place that never sleeps, its neon glow reflecting the hopes of those who hustle beneath it. The tone is a blend of hard‑boiled realism and tender romance, letting the audience feel the pulse of a metropolis that tests its inhabitants at every turn.

At the heart of this world are Danny Kenny, a naturally gifted boxer whose talent is tempered by modest ambitions, and Peggy Nash, a bright‑eyed dancer yearning for a better life beyond poverty. Their love blossoms amid shared hardships, each striving to rise out of the shadows of their neighborhood. Danny’s quiet determination and Peggy’s fiery desire to escape the confines of their environment create a magnetic tension that drives their relationship, while the city’s unforgiving streets and glittering stages constantly remind them of what’s at stake.

The story sets up a compelling crossroads: Danny’s path leads toward the unforgiving world of professional boxing, a realm where discipline and raw power intersect, while Peggy steps onto a stage where ambition can be both liberating and perilous. Their intertwined journeys hint at the sacrifices required to chase success, and the narrative promises a delicate balance between personal aspiration and the bonds that hold them together. As New York looms large, the film evokes a mood of yearning and resilience, inviting viewers to wonder how love and ambition will navigate the inevitable challenges of a city that rewards boldness but exacts a heavy price.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:05

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Gritty Urban Love Stories with Sacrifice like in City for Conquest

Passionate romances tested by ambition and hardship in a tough city.Explore movies like City for Conquest that feature passionate romances set in tough city environments. If you enjoyed the story of Danny and Peggy's love tested by ambition and hardship, you'll find similar dramatic tales of sacrifice and resilience in these films.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a couple deeply in love whose relationship is strained by their individual struggles to escape poverty or achieve their dreams. Their paths diverge, leading to suffering and regret, with the core question being whether their bond is strong enough to endure the sacrifices they've made for each other and themselves.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared setting of a gritty city as a character, a central bittersweet romance, and the theme of ambition forcing painful choices. They deliver a specific emotional mix of hopeful passion weighed down by the realities of struggle.

Bittersweet Redemption Stories like in City for Conquest

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist striving for something meaningful—love, career, family—only to suffer a major setback or sacrifice (e.g., physical injury, lost love). The resolution offers a sense of closure or achievement, but it is forever shaded by the losses endured along the way, emphasizing that victory is never without its scars.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a core emotional arc: a journey through pain leading to a conclusion that is both hopeful and sad. The tone is consistently bittersweet, balancing moments of despair with resilience, and the endings reflect the complex reality that some wounds never fully heal, even in success.

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City for Conquest Summary

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City for Conquest Summary

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City for Conquest Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in City for Conquest

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Characters, Settings & Themes in City for Conquest

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