Cody Jarrett (James Cagney) is a violent, psychopathic outlaw and the ringleader of a group that robs a train headed for California, in this noir gangster film written in semi-documentary style. As a killer, Cody is the bad guy. Yet, he must confront enemies that in some ways are even worse. He must deal with traitors inside his own gang. He also must outwit a much more difficult enemy, the U.S. government, which uses lies and deceit to trap him. And so by comparison, viewers sympathize with Cody, a strait shooter and basic loner who, though pugnacious, is tough, pragmatic, smart, and gutsy.
Cody draws inspiration from his mama (Margaret Wycherly) who tags along with the gang, cooking and shopping. While trust is hard to come by among gang members, Ma Jarrett and Cody psychologically depend upon, and reinforce, each other. Mom eggs her son on, and at one point intones: "You're the smartest there is, Cody". And when mom says she could have made a mistake, Cody responds: "Your hunches are never wrong, Ma". Hints of Freud, maybe?
When Cody uses prison as a way to avoid a more serious rap, the Fed sends in an undercover detective who assumes the name of Vic Pardo (Edmond O'Brien), to trap Cody and get inside info on the gang. One of my complaints about the script is that Pardo doesn't act like a real prisoner; he acts like an undercover cop. And so the character just isn't believable. Yet the Pardo character and some inserted plot twists keep the story moving to its less than realistic conclusion. Another problem is the script's prison interlude segment. It's too long and too talky. This section could have been cut in half and still maintained essential plot points.
B&W cinematography is acceptable but nothing special. Background score is too loud and intrusive most of the time. Production design is largely invisible, which is what we would expect for a 1940s crime film. Casting is okay. And the acting is somewhat above average, with the best performances coming from Cagney and Wycherly.
"White Heat" is really a James Cagney cinematic vehicle. The entire plot revolves around his character and his relationship to those who come into his orbit. Though this is a fine character study, and Cagney gives a fine performance, the overall story is a bit dull and tedious for me.
Cody draws inspiration from his mama (Margaret Wycherly) who tags along with the gang, cooking and shopping. While trust is hard to come by among gang members, Ma Jarrett and Cody psychologically depend upon, and reinforce, each other. Mom eggs her son on, and at one point intones: "You're the smartest there is, Cody". And when mom says she could have made a mistake, Cody responds: "Your hunches are never wrong, Ma". Hints of Freud, maybe?
When Cody uses prison as a way to avoid a more serious rap, the Fed sends in an undercover detective who assumes the name of Vic Pardo (Edmond O'Brien), to trap Cody and get inside info on the gang. One of my complaints about the script is that Pardo doesn't act like a real prisoner; he acts like an undercover cop. And so the character just isn't believable. Yet the Pardo character and some inserted plot twists keep the story moving to its less than realistic conclusion. Another problem is the script's prison interlude segment. It's too long and too talky. This section could have been cut in half and still maintained essential plot points.
B&W cinematography is acceptable but nothing special. Background score is too loud and intrusive most of the time. Production design is largely invisible, which is what we would expect for a 1940s crime film. Casting is okay. And the acting is somewhat above average, with the best performances coming from Cagney and Wycherly.
"White Heat" is really a James Cagney cinematic vehicle. The entire plot revolves around his character and his relationship to those who come into his orbit. Though this is a fine character study, and Cagney gives a fine performance, the overall story is a bit dull and tedious for me.