This is Jimmy Cagney !! Of course he was trying to stop being hero worshipped by the kids !!

@wonder2wonder said:

It didn't end like other gangster movies in a big shoot out.

Why did Rocky start begging and crying for his life? Was he really afraid? Did the priest convince him with talk of saving souls?

It's beautifully ambiguous. One thing I love is that you just don't know what his true motivation was -- draw your own conclusion.

Yes, no one knows and the point is that the audience has to decide for themselves.

He was cool in the face of death earlier, I think it was just an act for the kids.

@Quincey_Morris said:

He was cool in the face of death earlier, I think it was just an act for the kids.

Agreed. I think Pat O'Brian's argument convinced him at the last moment to put on a show that would deter the kids from a miserable life of crime.

Don't forget this film was made in the days when good mostly triumphed over evil. I think they were trying to show that it was evil that was driving Jimmy and that once that evil had been triumphed over then Jimmy was redeemed and became good in the end. That is my take on it - but of course - it is ambiguous.

Yes, also an excellent point.