This movie could actually be considered a Christmas Holiday movie, since the timeline occurs during the "Season to be Giving" and it does promotes some solid holiday values. I saw this film 20 years ago and admired it. I like it even better now. The performances are what make the film--especially the teaming of Stanwyck and Cagney, their only time together. Both play their normal strong willed characters. It's like a boxing match, and unfortunately, one doesn't take their gloves off to Stanwyck. In this case, if you want to see a subtle, authentic actress at her best, watch her expression in the court scene when the Judge makes his ruling. Wow, she just says it all in a matter of a split second. Nothing showy, just so real. There are many touching moments in this film. It's very well written, and there's certain patterns that happen along the way to give it some degree of enjoyment and premomination of what is to come. For example, the conversation between the policeman and Cagney when he jay walks. My favorite line is the optimism: Stanwyck's character says "There's always a kind of hope in everything. And isn't it refreshing when her character says "I don't know." (Because sometimes you don't). Walter Pidgeon accepted below the title billing perhaps to conclude his contract with the studio. He started to do theatre after this film was completed. That's Tom Laughlin (Later Billy Jack) as the football player that dropped the ball, and Michael Landon can be seen in the pool hall as an extra, and Dean Jones has an important early role.
Review of These Wilder Years
