Bert Roach, born in 1891 in Washington, D.C., was a prolific actor who appeared in over 300 films during his career. His role in They Made Me a Criminal (1939) highlights his ability to navigate the complexities of early crime cinema, capturing the essence of the genre's gritty narratives. Roach's extensive filmography, spanning from 1914 to 1951, reflects the evolution of American cinema, and his performance in this cult classic remains a testament to his enduring presence in the world of exploitation and crime films.
They Made Me a Criminal
Johnnie is a boxer. The same evening he won the world championship, he is charged for the murder of a reporter and is taken for dead. Running away from New York, he ends up in a ranch in Arizona, run by an old lady as a work farm for delinquent teenagers. He falls in love with Peggy and became the teenagers’ hero. But there is that New York Detective, Phelan, that does not believe he is dead and is chasing him.
