HE WAS HER MAN

US, 1934, 70 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Victor Jory, Frank Craven, John Qualen.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon.

James Cagney and Joan Blondell made seven films together. They work well together. This time, Cagney portrays a thief who has just got out of prison, decides to set up those who set him up and calls the police for a phony robbery. A policeman is killed in the raid and one goes to the electric chair while the other decides to get revenge and track down Cagney. He gets some hired killers who follow Cagney to the California coast where he has gone with Joan Blondell, whom he has accidentally met. She portrays a former prostitute who is about to marry a Portuguese fisherman, played genially by Victor Jory.

The film shows something of life in the fishing village, especially celebrations and the preparation for a marriage. On the other hand, there is the world of the criminals and the hit-men, tracking down their prey.

James Cagney has a moustache in this one, struts around in his usual manner. Joan Blondell, on the other hand, plays her role rather quietly, a world-weary woman who is trying to find some kind of security, falls in love with Cagney, but realises that she must stay in the fishing village.

1. A Warner Bros crime melodrama of the 1930s? The cast? The short running time? Tough? Pre-application of the Motion Picture Code?

2. The black and white photography, New York, San Francisco, the California coast and the village? The countryside? A realistic feel? The musical score?

3. The title? Flicker Hayes as the He? Or Nick Gardella? Or both?

4. Flicker Hayes, getting out of prison, his character, his setting up the criminals? Ringing the police? His being in on the act, observing what happened, getting away? In the hotel? His being recognised by the clerk? The chance encounter with Rose? The bond between the two? His going with Rose in the bus? Her not being comfortable with him? His discussions with Mrs Gardella, staying in the house, friendship with Nick, going fishing? His plans with Rose? The tracking down by the criminals? His encounter with the driver, getting the information, going back to save Rose? His plain talk to her, freeing her to stay in the village? His going off with the criminals – and the film ending before he was killed?

5. Rose, her background, desperate, coming back for the wedding dress? Her falling in love with Flicker? Going with him on the bus? Her meeting with Nick, his forgiving her, wanting to marry her? In the house, uncomfortable with Flicker, with Mrs Gardella, with Nick? Her change of heart, planning to leave with Flicker? The arrival of the criminals? Flicker arriving back, his saying that he could not go with her, her accepting this? The final wedding scene?

6. Nick, genial fisherman, at home, loving Rose, ignoring her past? Friendly with Flicker, the fishing? The marriage and his reassuring Rose?

7. Pop Sims, the information to the criminals, posing as a fisherman, continuing the phone calls? The background of criminals, the networks?

8. The locals, Mrs Gardella and the Portuguese hospitality? Dutch and the cab? His helping Flicker?

9. Popular ingredients for this kind of crime thriller, hardboiled, in the 1930s?