A LION IS IN THE STREETS

US, 1953, 88 minutes, Colour.
Jams Cagney, Barbara Hale, Anne Francis, Warner Anderson, John Mc Intyre, Lou Chaney Jr.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.

A Lion Is In The Streets is a short, punchy, political drama. Directed by veteran Raoul Walsh, who had directed James Cagney in many of his films from the 30's to the 50's, makes this parallel to Robert Penn Warren's All The King's Men a vital kind of political film. In fact, there are many parallels of this story of Hank Maetin with Hughy Long, the governor of Louisiana. The part is right for James Cagney who is full of dynamic energy. Barbara Hall and Anne Francis support him very well as the contrasting women in his life. The film is an interesting glimpse at American politics, the poverty of the south, the ability of people to be moved by a self-seeking demagogue and believe the best about him, not questioning his moral stances. Cagney is excellent with his rather hypnotic sway over the cotton pickers of the south who support him. A very concise screenplay moves the action along briskly to its violent conclusion. Good political drama.

1. The value of this kind of political interest human drama? The significance of the title and its exemplification during the credits?

2. The background of American politics, especially Hughie Long in Louisiana? Politics in the 30s as portrayed in the 50s? The background of All the King's Men? Comparisons?

3. The contribution of the colour, the atmosphere of the South? The musical score?

4. The brevity of the film, the concise screenplay, the editing and juxtapositions of events, pace?

5. The film as a James Cagney vehicle? His energy and style, skill in moving the film along?

6. Audience response to Hank Martin and his push? The initial sequences of his peddling? His background, personality and style? His way with people, persuasiveness? The encounter with the teacher and the swiftness of his courtship and marrying her? His song etc.?

7. The credibility of his marrying Verity? The build-up to their finding the house, the painting of the house and his persuading his friends to contribute? His attitude towards law and bettering himself?

8. The nature of his ambitions and their reality? Hank and circumstances? His personal obsessions and their being focused on right? His being right but for the wrong reasons?

9. The drama of the clash with Castlebury on the day of his marriage? His blunt speaking of the truth? His friendship with the lawyer? The libel and the confrontations? The violence of language and its leading to the courtroom?

10. The portrayal of Castlebury and his responsibilities? His seeming to be a villain? Victimized by Hank Martin? The revelation of his innocence and the deception of his assistants?

11. The background of double-dealing, falsification of weights, the buyers and the victims?

12. How did Hank rabble-rouse this into a big situation? The sequence of the confrontation? Jeb Martin and the shooting? His going to prison? Standing for his principles? His being shot and victimized? Hank's bringing him into court with the consent of his wife? The melodrama and satire in such courtroom procedure, propping up the dying man? His death? For what cause did he die?

13. Verity and her realizing what was happening, her support of Hank, her fears?

14. The importance of Hank's friendship with the lawyer, his continued advice and Hank's reaction to it?

15. The significance of the visit to Spurge? His loyalty in the swamplands to Hank? His family? The characterization of Flamingo and her jealousy? The melodrama of her attempt to kill Verity? What did this contribute emotionally to the development of the film?

16. Hank and his rise to power, his involvement with deals, his double-dealing about Jeb Brown's assassination and who was involved, his desperate desire for votes?

17. Voting day, the rain, the rural vote, the counting, the broadcast and Hank's ability to incite people? How credible was this drastic action in view of his character and his skill with moving people?

18. The build-up to violence and the irrevocable nature of violence on the kind of rousing-the-masses? Spurge and his family and the others coming to Hank's support?

19. The dramatics of the moment of truth, Mrs. Brown confronting Hank, the people's disbelief, his belief in himself and the inevitability of his being killed?

20. What insights into human nature, particular styles of personality, social situations and oppression and their raising up this kind of rabble-rousing saviour, people and the fickleness of their support, the needs for society and politics?