The Plot: Wrongfully imprisoned reporter James Cagney and mobster George Raft strike up an unlikely friendship while in jail, and find themselves dependent on each other to win their respective freedoms, both practically and psychologically.
I was initially reluctant to watch this, mainly because of the thought of Raft's droning voice. However, decided it to give it a look.
Raft certainly plays to type, but is young and relatively animated here, and comes over as a sympathetic character (although not one you'd invite to a dinner party). The plot very much depends on the conflict between his priorities as a mobster and the relationship he strikes up with Cagney's integrity-beset reporter. Raft was known for hobnobbing with mobsters in real life, and is even alleged to have prevented a 'hit' on Cagney when the mob had taken a dislike to him because of his union activities, so there are curious parallels on-screen with their off-screen lives.
Cagney is simply excellent. A scene where he suddenly breaks down in front of a parole board is very moving, as are his restrained facial expressions when he is forced to stand back while terrible things are happening around him during a prison riot.
The plot keeps one guessing. One kind of knows that the good guy will win, but not how, or where Raft's surprisingly complicated character will fit in to this. It is also a nicely put-together movie, from screenplay to shot composition to final editing.
I was initially reluctant to watch this, mainly because of the thought of Raft's droning voice. However, decided it to give it a look.
Raft certainly plays to type, but is young and relatively animated here, and comes over as a sympathetic character (although not one you'd invite to a dinner party). The plot very much depends on the conflict between his priorities as a mobster and the relationship he strikes up with Cagney's integrity-beset reporter. Raft was known for hobnobbing with mobsters in real life, and is even alleged to have prevented a 'hit' on Cagney when the mob had taken a dislike to him because of his union activities, so there are curious parallels on-screen with their off-screen lives.
Cagney is simply excellent. A scene where he suddenly breaks down in front of a parole board is very moving, as are his restrained facial expressions when he is forced to stand back while terrible things are happening around him during a prison riot.
The plot keeps one guessing. One kind of knows that the good guy will win, but not how, or where Raft's surprisingly complicated character will fit in to this. It is also a nicely put-together movie, from screenplay to shot composition to final editing.