James Cagney | Hollywood Yesterday

James Cagney: Jimmy the Gent

January 26, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

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

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

November 15, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

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 Leave a Comment

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.