JOHNNY COME LATELY
US, 1943, 97 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Grace George, Marjorie Main, Marjorie Lord, Hattie Mc Daniel, Margaret Hamilton.
Directed by William K. Howard.
Johnny Come Lately is a minor James Cagney vehicle. After his career at Warner Bros. in the '30s and early '40s with musical comedy and gangster films, he climaxed the early part of his career with an Oscar for George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy. He moved, with his brother, to independent production with this film and Blood on the Sun. During the '50s he was to resume his career with a number of successful films after White Heat. His last film in the '60s was One Two Three with a guest role, very effectively, in 1981's Ragtime.
This is a very Frank Capra/Robert Riskin-type story of the troubles in a small town with political manipulation and the confrontation by an old lady of principle. A stranger comes to town and helps - giving Cagney an opportunity to do a Gary Cooper, James Stewart role. The film is pleasant but minor of its type. The film was one of the rare appearances of stage actress Grace George.
1. An entertaining piece of Americana? James Cagney vehicle? The atmosphere of the '30s and '40s? Morale-boosting? Impact now?
2. A period piece, the atmosphere of the American town, the familiar aspects of the oppressed American town? Decor and sets? Score?
3. The structure of the film and its familiarity: the parallels with the western and the stranger coming into town, befriending the citizens, confronting the bosses, remedying the situations and leaving? The comic and serious touches? Sentiment, whimsy? The little people of America against the power people?
4. The picture of the town, the town boss and his building projects, corruption? His son? The pressures, the ownership of the paper, conflicts of interests, the hired killers? The final confrontation with Tom and his moving out of the town?
5. Mrs. Mc Leod: in herself, kind strong American old lady, her friendship with Aida and the black-white relationships, Jane as her niece, as helping her on the paper, the humorous characters on her staff, the confrontation with the boss, her write-ups of corruption, her going to the courts? The encounter with Tom, becoming friends with him, the situation of the paper, finance? The devising of the campaign? Becoming disheartened against pressures? Tom's continued support and the ultimate victory? An engaging characterisation by Grace George? Credible?
6. Tom Richards as the mysterious hobo: his arrival, wandering the town, quoting Dickens, the court case, quoting the poem to the vagrants - and his being seen as the published professional vagrant, his plans, the confrontation, joining Mrs. Mc Leod, Jane and the workers at the office? The importance of the encounters with Mary and gaining her support? The politician in the capital? The build-up of public opinion, clamour, his being imprisoned? The manoeuvres, the final confrontation and his winning?
7. Jane and her love for Peter? The age-old build-up of the conflict between interests and love breaking through? Their clashes? The truth? Jane's work at the paper? The comic touches with Myrtle and Willie?
8. Mary and her cafe, type, the Marjorie Main raucous style, her friends, Governor, her deciding to help with the campaign, being put in prison, Tom using this to invoke political aid?
9. The final confrontation and the boss telling the truth to his son, the compromise and moving out of town? The possibilities of honest achievement by the small people? The American dream? American politics?
10. The adaptation of a popular Louis Bromfield novel by noted playwright John Van Druten? In retrospect, a good Cagney vehicle or not?
