Alibi
“A hair-curling thriller vibrant with the pulse of the underworld, asparkle with the glamour of the New York night clubs.”
Synopsis
Chick Williams, a prohibition gangster, rejoins his mob soon after being released from prison. When a policeman is murdered during a robbery, he falls under suspicion. The gangster took Joan, a policeman's daughter, to the theater, sneaked out during the intermission to commit the crime, then used her to support his alibi. The detective squad employs its most sophisticated and barbaric techniques, including planting an undercover agent in the gang, to bring him to justice.
Top Cast
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Chester Morris
Chick Williams
Eleanor Griffith
Joan Manning Williams
Purnell Pratt
Sgt. Pete Manning
Pat O'Malley
Detective Sgt. Tommy Glennon
Regis Toomey
Danny McGann
Harry Stubbs
Buck Bachman
Mae Busch
Daisy Thomas
Irma Harrison
Toots
Elmer Ballard
Soft Malone - Cab Driver
Al Hill
Brown - a Crook
James Bradbury Jr.
Blake - a Crook
Kernan Cripps
Trask - Plainclothesman
Ed Brady
George Stanislaus David
DeWitt Jennings
Officer O'Brien
Virginia Flohri
Singer in Theatre
Edward Jardon
Singer in Theatre
Diana Beaumont
Edgar Caldwell
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 20, 1929
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Roland West
- Screenplay & Story
- Roland West, C. Gardner Sullivan
- Original Title
- Alibi
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Production Studios
- Feature Productions, United Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Roland West
Roland West, C. Gardner Sullivan
Ray June
Hal C. Kern
Roland West
Department Leadership Roster
Roland West
Director
Roland West
Writer
C. Gardner Sullivan
Writer
Ray June
Director of Photography
Hal C. Kern
Editor
Roland West
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Alibi.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Alibi.
Gangster
Auto-filled from Letterboxd lists
Movies - Live Action
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Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
Best Picture Nominees
Best Picture Nominees (updated 8/6/26)
Oscar Best Art Direction/Production Design Nominees
Complete list of Oscar Best Art Direction/Production Design Nominees
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Frequently Asked Questions About Alibi
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Alibi about?
Chick Williams, a prohibition gangster, rejoins his mob soon after being released from prison. When a policeman is murdered during a robbery, he falls under suspicion. The gangster took Joan, a policeman's daughter, to the theater, sneaked out during the intermission to commit the crime, then used her to support his alibi. The detective squad employs its most sophisticated and barbaric techniques, including planting an undercover agent in the gang, to bring him to justice.
Who directed Alibi?
Alibi was directed by Roland West.
Who stars in Alibi?
The principal cast of Alibi includes Chester Morris, Eleanor Griffith, Purnell Pratt, Pat O'Malley, Regis Toomey.
When was Alibi released and how long is it?
Alibi was released in 1929 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Alibi?
Alibi holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).