TERRIBLE JOE MORAN
US, 1984, 100 minutes, Colour.
James Cagney, Art Carney, Ellen Barkin, Peter Gallagher, Lawrence Tierney.
Directed by Joseph Sargent.
Terrible Joe Moran is an entertaining telemovie, perhaps not quite as good as was intended. It tells of an old man, a former boxing star who, on his 80th birthday receives a press and television tribute. He is in a wheelchair, looked after by a devoted friend, he has cut himself off from his family - especially his socialite wife. His granddaughter has problems with her boyfriend who is being pursued by the Mafia for several thousands of dollars. She detests her grandfather but goes to see him - there is a misunderstanding after the mellowing between the two and she promises to write his biography. Ultimately they realise they need each other and there is a reconciliation. Familiar material.
What makes it different is that James Cagney portrays the old man. Cagney, after a successful career in the '30s, '40s and '50s, made his last feature film One, Two, Three in 1961. He refused to be coaxed out of retirement until 1982 when he appeared in Ragtime. This is his debut on television. While in a wheelchair, he is nevertheless his old aggressive self - enhanced by clips on television taken from one of his '30s movies where he appeared as a boxer. The supporting cast is good - Art Carney as his devoted friend and Ellen Barkin (Diner, Harry and Son, Buckaroo Bonzai, Tender Mercies) is the granddaughter. Peter Gallagher (Idolmaker, Summer Lovers) is the boyfriend. The film is fairly sentimental and relies on emotional impact overly much - which detracts from its ultimate impact. Direction is by Joseph Sargeant, director of many films and telemovies.
1. An interesting and enjoyable film? Portrait of Joe Moran and his granddaughter? A picture of old age, the generation gaps, the reconciliation between the generations?
2. New York locations, apartments, the streets, gangsters? Authentic city, atmosphere? The insertion of the old clips of James Cagney starring as a boxer? The impact of the aged Cagney watching himself in his heyday? Musical score and feeling?
3. The title and its being a nickname for Joe in his heyday? His career as a boxer, his success, his not taking a fall, his honesty, the memories of his fights, the support of the crowd, the support of the fashionable young woman and his quick courtship and marriage? His leaving her? Separation from his family and its effect on him? His lack of knowledge about his family? The importance of his independence, but his being in the wheelchair? Mobility and immobility? His reliance on Troy? The comedy - Odd Couple style? Meals, cleaning the house, moving him round? The encounter with his granddaughter, suspicions? his being attracted towards her, talking with her, sharing reminiscences, the beginnings of the biography? His discovery of the truth about Nick? His disappointment? his going to the Mafia boss - and the discovery of rigged fights in the past? His strong stance? Giving the money? His refusal to see his father, his physical and optional decline? Cantankerous with Troy? The final reconcilia in a moving and sentimental ending? James Cagney's peppery styled being in the wheelchair?
4. Ronnie and her love for Nick, the dangers, their having to move, her resentment of her grandfather, love for her mother and grandmother? The decision to go to her grandfather? The clash, her suspicions, her aggressiveness? Staying, hoping for the money, going,to rob the safe, being caught by Troy? her mellowing, sharing reminiscences? admiration, calling him Poppa? The beginnings of the biography, her discovering herself as a writer? The phone calls from the Mafia? Joe's discovery of the truth; giving the money but cutting her off? The relationship with Nick, his schemes and dreams, her concern about the violence and his being bashed, meeting him, on the run? Her return to her grandfather, not being allowed in for the final reconciliation?
5. Art Carney as Troy and the odd Couple? Icon Running the house, looking after Joe, attacking him, his quips? Protecting him from Ronnie? Discovering her at the safe, refusing to let her in, relenting?.
6. Nick and his brainwaves, the need money, borrowing, on the run, love for Ronnie, the desperate meetings, the bashings, pressure on Ronnie to ask her grandfather for the money final dreams? The nostalgia for the '30s, the boxing era, the straight fights, the rigged fights? The tributes from the boxing fraternity? The television programme?
7. The Background of New York gangsters, the Mafia, their controls? The ageing Mafia boss and his acquaintance with Joe, the two old men, the boss riddled with cancer, Joe standing up to him?
9. A portrait-of old age, needs, affection, loneliness, past wilfulness catching up? The possibilities of happiness in old age through reconciliations, especially in families?
