CITY FOR CONQUEST

US, 1940, 104 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Frank Craven, Donald Crisp, Frank Mc Hugh, Arthur Kennedy, George Tobias, Jerome Cowan, Elia Kazan, Anthony Quinn, Lee Patrick.
Directed by Anatole Litvak.

City for Conquest is a film about boxing and the arts. It was directed with humanity by Anatole Litvak who made many films at Warner Bros at this time. It has the special effects, especially collages, from later director Byron Haskin who used the same techniques for Litvak’s Blues in the Night.

The film also has a strong score by Max Steiner, echoes of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

James Cagney portrays one of two brothers. He is a boxer, a genial man, sympathetic to his younger brother who is an aspiring composer. He is played by Arthur Kennedy in his first film.

The complication is Ann Sheridan, a neighbour who is James Cagney’s girl but who has ambitions to be a dancer and see her name in lights. She is charmed by a suave dancer played by Anthony Quinn.

The film was cut for release but a fuller version of the film was release in 2007. Frank Craven gets third billing but appears in only one scene. However, in the extended film he has many sequences and is also the voice-over introducing the film. Cut footage also includes scenes of the central characters when they were young.

Veterans like Donald Crisp and Frank Mc Hugh appear in the film. But it is also the first film of Elia Kazan who was to go on to be one of the most celebrated Hollywood directors, winning Oscars for Gentleman’s Agreement and On the Waterfront.

There are boxing sequences. The film culminates with a performance of the younger brother’s symphony, City for Conquest, in Carnegie Hall.

Some of the tough elements of the Warner Bros films of the 30s and 40s – but with a touch of humanity and a touch of the arts with music.

1. A Warner Bros film of the 30s-40s? Brooklyn, tough, the arts, the blend?

2. The black and white photography, the city streets, the boxing arenas, society gatherings, dance and theatre, Carnegie Hall?

3. The musical score, Max Steiner’s symphony, the echoes of Gershwin and Rhapsody in Blue and the tribute to New York? The range of popular songs used?

4. 1934, the Depression, the collages of activities and the streets of Brooklyn?

5. The strong cast, Cagney as tough but sympathetic? Ann Sheridan, dancing and glamour? Early films of Arthur Kennedy and Anthony Quinn? Elia Kazan?

6. The bonds between the two brothers, their contrast, no rivalries, mutual support? Eddie’s final tribute to Danny?

7. James Cagney as Danny, with Mutt, at the gyms, the training, tough, the agents, the truck-driving and the building sites, at home, Eddie and his music, Danny deciding to fight to win the money for Eddie’s scholarship, Danny’s success in the ring, Scotty and his being impressed, the development of Danny’s career, travel?

8. Peggy, living in the same building, in love with Danny, her dancing, the encounter with Murray, her being swept off her feet, the effect, wanting to see her name in lights, Eddie’s explanation of this motivation? With Murray, leaving with him, the dancing, the tours? Murray and his hard style? The contract, going on tour, New York, her name in lights? Her abandoning Danny?

9. Eddie, at home, composing, playing, Danny listening, at the social and his being ignored, playing the jazz, the Broadway contract, going to Carnegie Hall, the final triumph?

10. Danny and the effect of Peggy’s leaving, her message, his bashing the friend in the ring, the decision to fight the champion, the culminating boxing bout, the opponent cheating, damaging Danny’s eyes?

11. Danny, in hospital, accepting of what had happened to him? Wanting a job, the paper kiosk in the street, making friends with people, working with Mutt, his listening to Eddie’s symphony? Peg, his glimpse of her, the reconciliation?

12. The supporting characters and flavour: Googi, background of friendship in the past, in jail, getting out, Danny supporting him, going up in the world, entrepreneur, the clubs, the boxing matches, his reaction to Danny’s defeat, taking the rivals in the car, the shootings? Murray, charm, dancing, his tough attitude towards Peggy?

13. Effie, her taking pity on Peggy when she asked for a job, learning about the concert, going to the concert?

14. The old-timer, his narrative introducing the film – and the sequence where he stopped the boy stealing bread?

15. A satisfying film of the 40s – tough, emotional – and still interesting?