The Devil’s Party

The Devil’s Party

Year: 1938

Runtime: 65 mins

Language: English

Director: Ray McCarey

DramaCrime

Death to squealers! Adults who grew up as slum kids meet later in life, but murder disrupts their reunion.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Devil’s Party (1938)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Devil’s Party (1938). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Hell's Kitchen, New York, Manhattan, New York

The story unfolds in a gritty New York City setting, dominated by tenement streets and a brutal nightlife. Hell's Kitchen is the launchpad for Marty Malone’s gang origins, while Manhattan hosts Marty's Cigarette Club, a cabaret and casino that becomes the center of power and murder. The urban landscape reflects the era's corruption and social divides, driving the characters’ choices.

🏙️ Urban 🗽 City

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:57

Main Characters – The Devil’s Party (1938)

Meet the key characters of The Devil’s Party (1938), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Marty Malone (Victor McLaglen)

A former street gang member who has become the powerful owner of the Cigarette Club, a cabaret and casino in Manhattan. He exerts control through a mix of charm and intimidation, yet carries a latent guilt for the violence his past has spawned. He never intended anyone to die, and his final act is to shield others by taking a fatal bullet.

🕶️ Gangster 💼 Boss 🤝 Loyal

Joe O'Mara (John Gallaudet)

Marty’s brother, a former street kid turned aspiring police detective who believes the deaths were murders rather than accidents. He pursues the truth with relentless determination, risking family ties to uncover the crime’s real mastermind.

👮 Detective 🧭 Tenacious

Mike O'Mara (William Gargan)

Joe’s brother and a police officer who wrestles with family loyalty and duty. He is easily swayed by the thrill of action, yet ultimately guided by alarms of his own guilt and the memory of his brother. His arc moves from suspicion to attempted vengeance, and finally toward reconciliation.

👮 Detective 🧭 Loyal

Sam Diamond (Frank Jenks)

One of Marty’s brutal enforcers who participates in staging murders and violence to protect the club’s business. He is reckless and quick to escalate crime when pressured.

🧨 Criminal ⚖️ Violent

Frank Diamond (Joe Downing)

A second goon who helps execute robberies and intimidation tactics. He partners with Sam and contributes to the lethal chaos surrounding Marty's operation.

🧨 Criminal 💣 Aggressive

Jerry Donovan (Paul Kelly)

A former city kid who becomes a priest and serves as a moral counterpoint to the criminal world. He staunchly protects vulnerable people and challenges the criminals’ justification for violence.

🙏 Moral 🕊️ Protector

Helen McCoy (Beatrice Roberts)

A performer at the Cigarette Club who becomes involved with the central relationships, leveraging her position to influence outcomes. She loves Mike O'Mara and navigates a complicated triangle with Marty and Mike.

🎤 Entertainer ❤️ Romantic

Young Mike (Scotty Beckett)

As a child in Death Avenue, Mike forms early bonds with his peers that shape his later life and loyalty to his brother. His youth foreshadows the arc of the O’Mara brothers.

👦 Youngster 🧭 Loyal

Young Joe (Dickie Jones)

A member of the boyhood circle whose ambition to become a detective is sparked early by the deaths surrounding the gang. His arc closes abruptly with his own fatal fall.

👦 Youngster 🕵️‍♂️ Ambitious

Young Helen (Juanita Quigley)

A glimpse of Helen’s younger self in the same rough world, hinting at the romantic path she will later pursue with Mike. She embodies the personal costs of the gang’s lifestyle.

👧 Youngster 🎭 Performer

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:57

Major Themes – The Devil’s Party (1938)

Explore the central themes of The Devil’s Party (1938), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Loyalty

The movie threads loyalty across lifelong friendships, showing how childhood bonds survive into adulthood even as crime isolates characters. Friends and rivals alike risk consequences to protect one another, tugging between duty and self-preservation. The restoration of loyalty drives key plot turns and resolutions.

💼 Power

Marty’s rise from street kid to club owner demonstrates how power can corrupt and redefine relationships. Control over a shady entertainment empire enables violence, cover-ups, and shifting alliances. Authority becomes both shield and weapon as the plot unfolds.

🕊️ Sacrifice

Marty’s death is portrayed as a sacrifice that protects Mike and the community he built. The playground in Jerry’s boys club becomes a tangible memorial, signaling how selflessness can outlast a criminal past. The ending frames mercy and memory as the true legacy of a hard street life.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:57

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Unlock the Full Story of The Devil’s Party

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The Devil’s Party Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Devil’s Party, 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.

The Devil’s Party Summary

The Devil’s Party Timeline

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The Devil’s Party Timeline

More About The Devil’s Party

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More About The Devil’s Party

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