The Great O'Malley (1937)

After years of unemployment, John Phillips (Humphrey Bogart) finally lands a job. He's on top of the world, until he runs into James O'Malley (Pat O'Brien), a by-the-book cop so rigid he calls his loving ma a litterer for feeding the birds. O'Malley cites Phillips for a busted muffler, although he knows it will lose the man his job. Soon the desperate Phillips loses his freedom as well when he robs a pawnshop and lands in the slammer. But when O'Malley meets Phillips' crippled daughter, he begins to realize he should temper justice with mercy. A new man, O'Malley falls for Barbara's lovely teacher (Ann Sheridan) while he strives to undo the wrong he's done to the moppet's dad.