the remake is obviously 'better'...
Come on people! While I enjoyed the 1932 original, I do not see how anyone can possibly judge it as a better film than the remake. The 1983 version is much more absorbing; there is much more development and depth to the characters; the physical violence doesn't look ridiculously fake (those 1932 punches and slaps...LOL); the acting is much more professional (Muni was good but some of the other performances were pretty awful by modern standards)
The original may have been ground-breaking for its time, but it is clearly inferior by today's standards. However, it is fascinating to watch as a period piece.