Just watched it again on TCM what a Great film, It's one of my all-time favorite James Cagney gangster movies
shareDefinitely. Cagney and Bogart are great as rival gangsters. It's time for me to see this again too.
"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."
Have you seen it again yet?
So, to sum it up in legal terminology: Get lost, you bum.
Isn't it something -- I cannot accept CAGNEY or BOGART, and even EDWARD G. ROBINSON, in "good guy" roles.
In YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, I expect CAGNEY to blow someone away, at any moment.
In THE STRANGER, I expect EDWARD G. ROBINSON to gun down the professor/murderer -- in the back.
In THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT, it bothers me to see BOGART so wimpy as a goody-two-shoes husband.
Do you have the same "cognitive dissonance" in watching classic "bad guys" in good guy roles?
Hm. I feel the opposite way. Whenever I see James Cagney, I think of him as he was in Yankee Doodle Dandy. And I saw several of his gangster movies before seeing that movie.
shareW/ Robinson & Bogart, I know how you feel gebegb. But w/ Cagney, it's different. This guy exudes absolute & perfect charm that he can take any role & convince you he is that character w/ ease & grace. Also, excapt for White Heat, he has always portrayed good guys, even his anti-heroes, just good guys w/ good intentions who end up in a bad one.
I'll see you at the temple of doom . . . & remember, your the QUEEN!
"Also, excapt for White Heat, he has always portrayed good guys, even his anti-heroes, just good guys w/ good intentions who end up in a bad one."
Well, in THE PUBLIC ENEMY Cagney is basically a straight up psycopath, but other than that, I see your point.
As for me, I find it pretty easy to see Cagney in ANY role, because he's such a superb actor; if you actually look at, say, his performances in THE PUBLIC ENEMY, WHITE HEAT and THE ROARING TWENTIES, he creates totally different characters in all three.
I always found it kind of weird to see Bogart playing bad guys, since I grew up on CASABLANCA, THE MALTESE FALCON, THE BIG SLEEP ect. As for Edward G. Robinson, I'll personally always see him as Keys from DOUBLE INDEMNITY.
Robinson also excelled at comedy and in more gentle roles. He was such a brilliant actor.
Comedy - LARCENY, INC.
Family film - OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES
The guy's incredible.
Check out the last film he ever did -SOYLENT GREEN. His last scene in the film is a death scene and it is very moving.....especially when you remember that it was the last time he ever appeared on screen.
Saw it last night on TCM, too. I was falling asleep as it was ending around 2:30, but what a great movie. Cagney and evil Bogart, in my opinion, are just as, if not more, brutal as the harshest screen presences of modern times.
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Anyone else as Eddie Bartlett would have fallen off the mark made by Jimmy Cagney. This is hands down the greatest gangster picture ever made until The Godfather.
Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!
I really love this movie
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