"James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor and dancer, both on stage and in film (though primarily known for the latter). Known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing, he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances. He is best remembered for playing multifaceted tough guys in films such as ""The Public Enemy"" (1931), ""Taxi!"" (1932), ""Angels with Dirty Faces"" (1938), and ""White Heat"" (1949), finding himself typecast or limited by this reputation earlier in his career. In 1999, the American Film Institute"
"of the World!"" was voted 18th in AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes; while, in June 2008, ""White Heat"" was voted 4th in AFI's 10 Top 10 list of gangster movies. Scenes of the film are featured in the 1992 crime-drama film ""Juice"" as well as the 1982 ""Hart to Hart"" episode ""Hart and Sole."" In the noir parody ""Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid"" Steve Martin acts in scenes with Cagney's character through special effects and cross-cutting. The ""Made it ma, top of the world"" line is used in the 1991 film ""Ricochet"", in which Denzel Washington recites the quote in"
"for the first time. He was no longer a romantic commodity, and this was reflected in his performance. Cagney himself had the idea of playing Jarrett as psychotic; he later stated, ""it was essentially a cheapie one-two-three-four kind of thing, so I suggested we make him nuts. It was agreed so we put in all those fits and headaches."" Cagney's final lines in the film – ""Made it, Ma! Top of the world!"" – was voted the 18th-greatest movie line by the American Film Institute. Likewise, Jarrett's explosion of rage in prison on being told of his mother's death is"
"several times with a rifle, Cody fires at the tank, which bursts into flames, and shouts ""Made it, Ma! Top of the world!"" The tank then explodes. Uncredited: After winning an Oscar for ""Yankee Doodle Dandy"", Cagney left Warner Brothers in 1942 to form his own production company with his business manager and brother, William. After making four unsuccessful movies (including the well-regarded, but ""financially disastrous"" adaptation of William Saroyan's ""The Time of Your Life""), Cagney returned to Warner in mid-1949. His decision to return was purely financial; Cagney admitted he ""needed the money,"" and that he never forgot the"
"James Cagney made his motion picture debut in ""Ace of Aces"" as an actor and went on to become a Hollywood producer. John Monk Saunders wrote stories about flying that were influenced by his service as a flight instructor in World War I. In 1933, two of the stories that had a strong antiwar theme were turned into films. The first story, ""Death in the Morning"" was turned into ""The Eagle and the Hawk"" released in May 1933. His second story, ""The Bird of Prey"" became the basis of ""Ace of Aces"", which was shot in the summer and came"
"for the FBI"" (1951); ""Come Fill the Cup"" (1951), produced by Cagney starring James Cagney; ""The Iron Mistress"" (1952) a biopic of Jim Bowie starring Alan Ladd; ""Mara Maru"" (1952), an adventure story with Errol Flynn; ""So This Is Love"" (1953), a musical biopic of Grace Moore; ""The Charge at Feather River"" (1954), a 3D Western; ""She's Back on Broadway"" (1953), a musical; ""Them!"" (1954), a science fiction film about giant ants; ""Young at Heart"" (1955), with Doris Day and Frank Sinatra; ""Sincerely Yours"" (1955) with Liberace; ""The McConnell Story"" (1955), a biopic of Joseph C. McConnell with Alan Ladd;"
"William Cagney William Jerome Cagney (March 26, 1905 – January 3, 1988) was an American film producer and actor, remebered for roles in the Monogram Pictures films ""Lost in the Stratosphere"" and ""Flirting with Danger"", both filmed in 1934. He produced several of his lookalike brother James Cagney's films, including ""City for Conquest"" (1940), ""Blood on the Sun"" (1945), ""The Time of Your Life"" (1948), ""Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye"" (1950), and ""A Lion Is in the Streets"" (1953). He was credited as an associate producer on one of his brother's most iconic pictures, ""Yankee Doodle Dandy"" (1942), and also handled James"
"Cagney's performance and many of the others were ""quite strong"". ""TimeOut"" wrote: ""Cloud nine tosh from the days when Warner movies preached that delinquents were just good kids in need of a helping hand"", but concluded that ""Despite the risible script, Cagney is as watchable as ever, and Mayo directs sleekly."" The Mayor of Hell The Mayor of Hell is a 1933 American pre-Code Warner Brothers film starring James Cagney. The film was remade in 1938 as ""Crime School"" with Humphrey Bogart taking over James Cagney's role and ""Hell's Kitchen"" with Ronald Reagan in 1939. Racketeer Patsy Gargan is made"
"The Mayor of Hell The Mayor of Hell is a 1933 American pre-Code Warner Brothers film starring James Cagney. The film was remade in 1938 as ""Crime School"" with Humphrey Bogart taking over James Cagney's role and ""Hell's Kitchen"" with Ronald Reagan in 1939. Racketeer Patsy Gargan is made deputy commissioner of a reform school as a reward from his corrupt political cronies. Initially, he has no interest in the school, but his sympathy for the boys, who are abused and battered by a brutal, heartless warden and his thuggish guards convince him to take the job seriously, as does"
"film stars James Cagney and Dennis Morgan as Canadian pilots who do their part in the Second World War, and features Brenda Marshall, Alan Hale Sr., George Tobias, Reginald Gardiner, and Reginald Denny in supporting roles. The title of the film came from a phrase used by Billy Bishop, the First World War fighter ace, who played himself in the film. The same words are also echoed in the narration of ""The Lion Has Wings"" documentary (1939). In 1942, Canada had been at war with the Axis Powers for over two years, while the United States had only just entered"
"troops with vaudeville routines and scenes from ""Yankee Doodle Dandy"". In September 1942, he was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild. Almost a year after its creation, Cagney Productions produced its first film, ""Johnny Come Lately"", in 1943. While the major studios were producing patriotic war movies, Cagney was determined to continue dispelling his tough-guy image, so he produced a movie that was a ""complete and exhilarating exposition of the Cagney 'alter-ego' on film"". According to Cagney, the film ""made money but it was no great winner"", and reviews varied from excellent (""Time"") to poor (New York's ""PM""). Following"
"The Time of Your Life (film) The Time of Your Life is a 1948 comedy drama film directed by H. C. Potter and starring James Cagney, William Bendix, Jeanne Cagney, Wayne Morris, Broderick Crawford and Ward Bond. A Cagney Production, ""The Time of Your Life"" was produced by Cagney's brother William and adapted by Nathaniel Curtis from the 1939 William Saroyan play of the same name. Cinematography was by James Wong Howe. The film follows the adventures of a group of regulars at Nick's 'Pacific Street Saloon, Restaurant and Entertainment Palace' in San Francisco. A sign outside tells people to"
"well as dance in a musical. His favorite film, ""Yankee Doodle Dandy"". 1942 was a patriotic wartime musical that was filled with passion and support for the military. He was a close friend of Ronald Reagan, he was a family man who passionately supported his country. In 1938, as the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, Cagney was accused of communist sympathies and was brought before the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities. He was exonerated. Through all of this he never lost his passion for his country or his enormous appeal to his fans. During his involvement as Chairman of the Hollywood"
"success, however, and in 1953, after William Cagney produced his last film, ""A Lion Is in the Streets"", the company came to an end. Cagney's next notable role was the 1955 film ""Love Me or Leave Me"", his third with Day. Cagney played Martin ""Moe the Gimp"" Snyder, a lame Jewish-American gangster from Chicago, a part Spencer Tracy had turned down. Cagney described the script as ""that extremely rare thing, the perfect script"". When the film was released, Snyder reportedly asked how Cagney had so accurately copied his limp, but Cagney himself insisted he had not, having based it on"
"in but Buck has fallen to his death while trying to escape. Sue decides to leave Matt but changes her mind. Taxi! Taxi! is a 1932 American pre-Code gangster film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring James Cagney and Loretta Young. The film includes two famous Cagney dialogues, one of which features Cagney conducting a conversation with a passenger in Yiddish, and the other when Cagney is speaking to his brother's killer through a locked closet, """"Come out and take it, you dirty yellow-bellied rat, or I'll give it to you through the door!"""" The provenance of this sequence"
"against the newest German aircraft. But as he prepares to close in for the kill, he again thinks about the German cadet, and is unable to fire. The Germans see him and shoot him down, but he lives to return home to his sweetheart after the war. In the final scene, he still feels guilty for what he became, and says he has been unable to sculpt. But Nancy is supportive and still wants to marry him. They will get past it together. As appearing in ""Ace of Aces"", (main roles and screen credits identified): William Cagney, the brother of"
"""Down to the Sea in Ships"" (1949), ""The Reformer and the Redhead"" (1950), back at MGM. In 1950, it was announced James Hilton was writing a script as a vehicle for Kellaway, ""Roof of the World"", based on the actor's time in India. It was not made. He was in ""Harvey"" (1950), ""Kim"" (1950), ""Katie Did It"" (1951), ""Francis Goes to the Races"" (1951), ""Half Angel"" (1951), and ""The Highwayman"" (1951). He went back to Paramount for ""Thunder in the East"" (1952) and was in ""Just Across the Street"" (1952), ""My Wife's Best Friend"" (1952), ""Young Bess"" (1953), ""The Beast"
"of John R. Leech, the self-described 'chief functionary' of the Los Angeles Communist Party who had been subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). The New York Times printed the allegation that Cagney was a communist on its front page. Cagney refuted the accusation and Martin Dies, Jr. made a statement to the press clearing Cagney. William Cagney, one of the film's producers, is reported to have said to his brother that ""we're going to have to make the goddamndest patriotic picture that's ever been made. I think it's the Cohan story"". The film nearly doubled the earnings of"
"""The Facts of Life"", ""Family Matters"", ""Mad About You"", ""Murder, She Wrote"", ""Father Dowling Mysteries"",""Three's Company"", ""Magnum, P.I."", ""A Man Called Intrepid"", ""Growing Pains"", ""Dark Justice"", ""Cheers"", ""Dharma & Greg"", ""Cybill"", ""The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"" to ""Home Improvement"". He was probably best known for his role as Charlie Cagney in the television hit ""Cagney & Lacey"". Before moving to California, he appeared on the Broadway stage in such hits as ""Promises, Promises"", ""The Unsinkable Molly Brown"", and ""Skyscraper"". His film credits include ""The Mugger"" (1958), ""To the Shores of Hell"" (1966), ""Gammera the Invincible"" (1966), ""Pretty Poison"" (1968), ""Some"
"time; one of the best in Cagney's career, and a ""true example of brilliant American cinema."" In 2008, it was shortlisted by the American Film Institute for selection in its list of the top 100 movies of the last 100 years. In 2013, Steven Van Zandt named it as one of his ""most favorite mob movies"" in an article for ""Rolling Stone"". Two years later, ""Slant Magazine"" named it 67th in a list of the ""100 Best Film Noirs of All Time"". Over the years, the film has inspired a number of parodies. In 1939, Warner Bros. released a cartoon"
"for a two-year term. He took a role in the Guild's fight against the Mafia, which had begun to take an active interest in the movie industry. His wife, Billie Vernon, once received a phone call telling her that Cagney was dead. Cagney alleged that, having failed to scare off the Guild and him, they sent a hitman to kill him by dropping a heavy light onto his head. Upon hearing of the rumor of a hit, George Raft made a call, and the hit was supposedly canceled. During World War II, Cagney raised money for war bonds by taking"
"and sentenced to death in the electric chair. Connolly pleads with Rocky to ""turn yellow"" on his way to the chair so the Kids will lose their admiration for him, and hopefully avoid turning to crime. Sullivan refuses, but on his way to his execution, he breaks down and begs for his life. It is unclear whether this cowardice is real or just feigned for the Kids' benefit. Cagney himself refused to say, insisting he liked the ambiguity. The film is regarded by many as one of Cagney's finest, and garnered him an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination for"
"James Cagney's performance in the title role earned the Best Actor Academy Award. The film was privately screened for Cohan as he battled the last stages of abdominal cancer, and he commented on Cagney's performance: ""My God, what an act to follow!"" Cohan's 1920 play ""The Meanest Man in the World"" was filmed in 1943 with Jack Benny. Although Cohan is mostly remembered for his songs, he became an early pioneer in the development of the ""book musical"", using his engaging libretti to bridge the gaps between drama and music. More than three decades before Agnes de Mille choreographed ""Oklahoma!"","
"the movie. He swapped roles so he played the gangster and Cagney played the reporter. The film was one of Warner Bros most popular films in 1939. According to Warner Bros records it earned $1,111,000 domestically and $459,000 foreign. It led to George Raft being offered a long term contract by Warner Bros. Each Dawn I Die Each Dawn I Die is a 1939 gangster film featuring James Cagney and George Raft in their only movie together as leads, although Raft had made an unbilled appearance in a 1932 Cagney vehicle called ""Taxi!"" in which he won a dance contest"
"in the Yorkville section of Manhattan, New York. His main inspiration was a drug-addicted pimp, who stood on a street corner all day hitching his trousers, twitching his neck, and repeating: ""Whadda ya hear! Whadda ya say!"" Those mannerisms came back to haunt Cagney, who later wrote in his autobiography: ""I did those gestures maybe six times in the picture. That was over thirty years ago - and the impressionists have been doing me doing him ever since."" Cagney's other inspiration was his childhood friend, Peter ""Bootah"" Hessling, who was convicted of murder and executed by electric chair on July"
"while admonishing him ""not to make a monkey out of me"". Arthur and Susan leave as Monaghan calls for a priest, and Joe calls his newspaper to inform them of McLeod's death, ""in the line of duty"". Paramount bought film rights in 1949 for $285,000, plus a percentage of the profits. Alan Ladd was the first star linked to the project. The film version omits details from the play pertaining to the criminal underworld and the dangers of a police state. During production, the film had some trouble with the Production Code Authority. The Production Code did not allow the"
", with the strapline ""Cagney's Mightiest"" adding to her characterization. Blood on the Sun Blood on the Sun is a 1945 American drama romantic thriller war film directed by Frank Lloyd starring James Cagney and Sylvia Sidney. The film is based on a fictional history behind the Tanaka Memorial document. The film won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction for a Black & White (Wiard Ihnen, A. Roland Fields) film in 1945. A computer-colorized version of the film was created in 1993. In 1973, the film entered the public domain in the United States because the claimants did not"
"world ...and to actors as well."" He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1980, and a Career Achievement Award from the U.S. National Board of Review in 1981. In 1984, Ronald Reagan awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1999, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 33-cent stamp honoring Cagney. Cagney was among the most favored actors for the director Stanley Kubrick and the actor Marlon Brando, and was considered by Orson Welles to be ""maybe the greatest actor to ever appear in front of a camera."" Warner Bros. arranged private screenings of Cagney films for Winston Churchill. On"
"Jimmy Cagney everybody-talking-fast type movie. It turned out a little more like Louis Malle. Different movies have different speeds."" The film was not a big success at the box office. Roger Corman re-released it in 1980 under the title ""Guns, Sin and Bathtub Gin"", but it did not fare much better. On December 17, 2010 Shout! Factory released the title on DVD, packaged as a double feature with Crazy Mama as part of the Roger Corman Cult Classics collection. The Lady in Red (1979 film) The Lady in Red is a 1979 action-drama/romantic film directed by Lewis Teague and starring"
"He was known in Hollywood for writing and directing a number of crime movies in the early 1930s, including ""The Doorway to Hell"" and ""Quick Millions"". He presented the story to Mervyn LeRoy, who was keen to direct a ""vehicle"" starring the Dead End Kids, a group of young actors from New York. Brown and LeRoy tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a fee for the scenario. Brown then began pitching the film to other studios, and eventually made a deal with Grand National Pictures, who wanted James Cagney to star in the lead role. By the end of 1935, it became"
"Rooney, and it was a hit, earning $2,201,000 in the US and Canada and $990,000 elsewhere making a profit of $768,000. Killer McCoy Killer McCoy is a 1947 American film about a boxer. It is a remake of ""The Crowd Roars"" (1938). Tommy McCoy is a tough New York City boy, close to his dad, Brian, a performer in vaudeville. One night while his dad's doing a song and dance for the audience as part of a boxing event, Tommy accepts a challenge to step into the ring. He knocks out his opponent. Lightweight champ Johnny Martin is impressed. He"
"In Business"" on his 2010 album """". White Heat White Heat is a 1949 film noir directed by Raoul Walsh. It stars James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Margaret Wycherly and Steve Cochran. Written by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts, ""White Heat"" is based on a story by Virginia Kellogg, and is considered to be one of the best gangster movies of all time. In 2003, it was added to the National Film Registry as being ""culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant"" by the United States Library of Congress. Arthur ""Cody"" Jarrett is a ruthless, psychotic criminal and leader of the"
"Mafia, which had taken an active interest in the movie industry. Cagney's wife, Billie, once received a phone call telling her that Cagney was dead. Cagney alleged that, having failed to scare him and the guild off, they sent a hit man to kill him by dropping a heavy light onto his head. On hearing about the rumor of the hit, George Raft made a call, and the hit was supposedly cancelled. Raft was interviewed by FBI agents in 1938 and 1953. The 1938 interview was about his knowledge of Louis Buchalter and Jacob Shapiro. Raft was investigated for tax"