James Cagney | Hollywood Yesterday

City for Conquest: Absolute Movie Magic Packed with Outstanding Performances

April 16, 2023 By Joi

Anthony Quinn, Ann Sheridan, and James Cagney in City for Conquest

City for Conquest (1940) doesn’t just have one of my favorite Ann Sheridan performances… it has one of my favorite James Cagney performances AND one of my favorite Anthony Quinn performances. The film is honestly breathtaking in its magic. BRILLIANTLY directed by Anatole Litvak, the cast also includes Arthur Kennedy, George Tobias, Elia Kazan, Joyce Compton (love her to the moon and back), Donald Crisp, and Frank McHugh.

It’s safe to say that the film is just loaded with talent!

If you’re a James Cagney fan and have yet to see this film, you now know the next film you desperately need to see.

If you think you aren’t a James Cagney fan, you now know the next film you desperately need to see.

You can find the excellent City for Conquest (Amazon link) on dvd or watch the movie on Prime Video.

James Cagney and Edward Woods in The Public Enemy (1931)

June 8, 2022 By Joi

James Cagney and Edward Woods The Public Enemy

I rewatched The Public Enemy last week (possibly for the hundredth time) and was, yet again, struck by the jaw-dropping talent of James Cagney and Edward Woods (an actor who doesn’t get nearly enough attention). I was also reminded of the magic that was Jean Harlow.

The Harlow Magic can’t possibly be described – it has to be experienced… it has to be felt. You can see photos of the actress and, while they’re obviously lovely, they truly don’t do her justice. when she spoke, when she moved, and when she conveyed emotions with her beautiful eyes, the spell is cast and the magic explodes.

The only knock I have against The Public Enemy is the fact that she wasn’t in more scenes. Then again, her few short appearances may actually make a larger impact – a rare phenomenon is often felt even more.

The Public Enemy is an extraordinary movie. Is it a “feel good” film… Heavens no, but it is one everyone should see at least once. When you do, you’re probably going to end up seeing it countless times like me.

There’s just something about these characters that beg you to revisit them.

You can find The Public Enemy on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

James Cagney, Jean Harlow, and Edward Woods in The Public Enemy

Ann Sheridan, Michael Curtiz, and James Cagney: Behind the Scenes of Angels with Dirty Faces

March 11, 2022 By Joi

Michael Curtiz, Ann Sheridan and James Cagney Behind the Scenes

Many times… not always, mind you… but MANY times when one of your top 3 favorite actresses, one of your top 5 favorite actors, and one of your top 4 favorite directors team up for a movie – magic happens. It’s certainly the case, for me, with Angels with Dirty Faces. Ann Sheridan, James Cagney, and Michael Curtiz are favorites of mine and I LOVE that they created such an iconic and wonderful movie together.

Ann Sheridan and James Cagney

You can buy the wonderful movie on dvd (Angels with Dirty Faces on Amazon) or watch it on Prime Video.

Ann Sheridan and James Cagney, Angels with Dirty Faces (Perfect Picture of the Day)

June 2, 2021 By Joi

Ann Sheridan and James Cagney

Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) is one of James Cagney’s best-known and revered films and for good reason – the movie is extraordinary and the cast… the purest of gold.

In addition to the great James Cagney and beautiful and talented Ann Sheridan, the cast includes Pat O’Brien, Humphrey Bogart, George Bancroft, and (of course) The Dead End Kids. Director Michael Curtiz made a lot of wonderful films – this is absolutely one of his best.

You can buy the iconic movie on dvd (Angels with Dirty Faces on Amazon) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

James Cagney: Jimmy the Gent

January 26, 2021 By Joi

James Cagney, Alice White, and Arthur Hohl

Jimmy Cagney is one of those actors you tend to take for granted because he was so darn good. At least I do. Whenever I think of the best actresses and/or actors, he often isn’t one of the first group to come to mind… and yet… let’s face it, he was outstanding!

I think he made it all look so easy, so effortless. His versatility, alone is astounding.

If you’ve only seen James Cagney in gangster roles, I hope you’ll venture out into his more comedic performances. The man’s versatility and consistency was second to none.

You can find Jimmy the Gent (Amazon link) on dvd on Amazon or watch it on Amazon Prime. The movie stars James Cagney, Bette Davis, Alice White, Arthur Hohl, Allen Jenkins, Philip Reed, and Alan Dinehart.

Jimmy the Gent Lobby Card

Pictures of the Day from Angels with Dirty Faces: Ann Sheridan and James Cagney

December 31, 2020 By Joi

Ann Sheridan and James Cagney, Angels with Dirty Faces

I recently rewatched a movie I hadn’t seen in probably eight years, Angels with Dirty Faces. I kept wondering to myself, “Why have you waited so long to revisit this masterpiece?!” I had no answer that would hold water, so I quit asking the question. The iconic movie stars James Cagney, beautiful and talented Ann Sheridan, Pat O’Brien, Humphrey Bogart, and George Bancroft.

The acting in this film is absolutely phenomenal. When one sits down to watch it, their eyes are often (understandably, after all he was one of the greatest to ever live) on James Cagney and James Cagney, alone. But if you veer over to the other stars, you’ll realize they were every bit as great as the great Cagney, himself. Their roles were simply different than his and called for a different level of emotion.

The cast is one of the best ever assembled and director Michael Curtiz did a bang up job with each and every scene… each and every word of dialogue.

I guarantee it won’t be another eight years before I revisit this one again. Great acting is one of my favorite things to devour in a film and this one is absolutely delicious.

You can buy Angels with Dirty Faces on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Ann Sheridan and James Cagney

The Strawberry Blonde: Movies Do NOT Come Any More Perfect Than This One

November 15, 2020 By Joi

Rita Hayworth, James Cagney, and Olivia de Havilland

One of the cutest, most enjoyable, best-written, all around BEST movies ever made starred three of Old Hollywood’s brightest stars: Rita Hayworth, Olivia de Havilland, and James Cagney. The Strawberry Blonde (1941, directed by Raoul Walsh) is one of the handful of films I call a “perfect movie.”

There is absolutely nothing that would keep this film from being called flawless. Many movies come close to perfect… as in thisclose… but they have one or more “throwaway” scenes or “filler” storylines. There is no scenes – not a single one – in The Strawberry Blonde that is a throwaway scene. Not a one.

How remarkable is that?!

Most of us know that, even with our very favorite films, there is a scene or more where… by gosh, if you need more salt on your popcorn, wait for that particular throwaway scene and make your run to the kitchen. The Strawberry Blonde has no such scene from the moment it begins to the moment it (perfectly) ends.

Flawless. Perfect.

Some movies fall short of perfection because of a kink in the casting. Again, that certainly isn’t the case with The Strawberry Blonde.

(Continued Below the legends…)

Rita Hayworth and James Cagney

Rita Hayworth and James Cagney are perfectly wonderful in their roles (as they were in every role they ever stepped into), but… and this is coming from Rita Hayworth’s biggest fan… this film gets its magic from Olivia de Havilland and her mesmerizing portrayal of Amy Lind. The character is written so wonderfully – she’s ahead of her time, feisty, fiery, daring, unique, and deliciously original.

Who in the world could play her other than an actress who was all of those things as well?! Olivia de Havilland was as perfect of a fit in the role of Amy Lind as anyone has ever been fit for a role. She knocked it out of the park and seemed to relish the role.

The only hint of a problem is that we are supposed to believe that Amy isn’t quite as attractive as Rita Hayworth’s Virginia (The Strawberry Blonde). Poppycock! Olivia de Havilland was as beautiful as anyone. Yes, EVEN Rita Hayworth.

The Strawberry Blonde is also perfectly directed – as in every scene, every “extra,” every line, every expression. Raoul Walsh was an extraordinary director and this was one of his greatest accomplishments.

In spite of loving Rita Hayworth as much as any star has ever been loved by anyone, I only fairly recently saw The Strawberry Blonde. I think I, ridiculously, kept putting it off because I didn’t think it’d be too good. Seriously, I looked at the costumes and I looked at James Cagney who seemed to me (THEN…not NOW!) to be out of place and I thought, “I’ll save this one for another time.” I had zero idea it would be as hilarious, colorful, and wonderful as it is.

Halfway through the third scene, I told myself, “Girl, you were a perfect twit to wait this long to see this one!”

If you’ve never seen The Strawberry Blonde… please, whatever you do, don’t be a twit like me and put if off another day. It is outstanding.

You can watch The Strawberry Blonde on Prime Video or add to your private collection and buy the dvd on Amazon!

The Strawberry Blonde

Birthday Celebration: Jean Harlow (BOTD in 1911)

March 3, 2020 By Joi

James Cagney and Jean Harlow, The Public Enemy

Little did anyone know when Harlean Carpenter was born on March 3, 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri that she’d go on to become one of the biggest movie stars of all time. While “Harlean Carpenter” may not be a household name, the name she took for herself…. Jean Harlow… certainly is.

As I often tell people (Twitter people, family people…. any people who will listen or even just pretend to listen), If you only “know” Jean Harlow from her photographs or from things you’ve read about her… you don’t “know” Jean Harlow at all.

Heck, you’re barely even familiar with her!

It’s when you delve into her quotes and, more importantly, into her films, that you find the magical, magnetic star that she was. Trust me, it’s a delve worth taking.

As you may know, I have watched old movies (as well as classic television) all of my life. Every decade, every genre, every actor, every actress. And yet… I still can’t put my finger on what makes Jean Harlow so special. To this day, I have no idea what trait or feature it was that sets her apart from the rest. She wasn’t necessarily better than other actresses of her time (not all of them, anyway!), but she did have a certain charisma that made her stand out like a beautiful sunset that makes it impossible to look away.