In 1933, Warner Brothers released the film The Mayor of Hell starring James Cagney.
The "Hell" referred to is a reform school run by a "brutal, heartless warden and his thuggish guards". Cagney takes over as deputy commissioner and reforms the reform school. Of course, things don't run smoothly, but Cagney succeeds in the end.
Evidently, Warner Brothers thought this was a winning formula for a movie and remade the film in 1938 as Crime School with Humphrey Bogart and the Dead End Kids. The plot isn't exactly the same - there are minor differences. Still, Bogart takes over and reforms the reform school. Interesting to note, one actor played in both films - George Offerman Jr.
In 1939, Warner Brothers wanted to make the movie once again - Hell's Kitchen.
The Dead End Kids return in this version with Crane Wilbur getting credit for writing the 2nd and 3rd versions. Versions 2 and 3 also have same producer and director.
Hell's Kitchen more closely follows the plot of the first film. However, the lead actor taking over to reform the school (Stanley Fields) is not romantically involved with the leading lady, as Cagney and Bogart were in their film versions. In Hell's Kitchen the romantic lead is taken over by a young Ronald Reagan who plays the nephew of Fields' character.
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