HARD TO HANDLE

US, 1933, 78 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Ruth Donnelly, Mary Brian, Allen Jenkins.
Directed by Mervyn Le Roy.

Hard to Handle is an early film from James Cagney. He had made an impact in 1931 with Public Enemy. He made many short films during the major part of the 1930s, ranging from musicals like Footlight Parade to an exploration of the FBI in G Men. By 1938, with Angels Dirty Faces, he went more upmarket in Warner Bros action films. However, he won his Oscar in 1942 for his portrayal of George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy.

This film focuses on a conman in the early 1930s, in the atmosphere of the Depression. It opens with the marathon dances, familiar to filmgoers from They Shoot Horses, Don't They. Cagney is a smart-talking conman – and, in this film, very fast-talking. Also fast-talking is Ruth Donnelly as the mother of the winner of the marathon, interested in her daughter, a conwoman to rival Cagney. Mary Brian is the heroine.

The film was directed by Mervyn Le Roy who had made Little Caesar and this film came immediately after I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. LeRoy? continued at Warner Bros but moved to more upmarket films at MGM in the early 1940s.

1. James Cagney vehicle? His screen presence? Smart-talking, fast-talking? Hero – anti-hero? In the context of the Depression and money problems?

2. The setting, California, New York? The American cities? The atmosphere of the 30s? Black and white photography? Musical score?

3. The opening with the marathons, the radio announcer and his comments revealing the exploitation of the contestants? The dancing, the perseverance, trying to keep awake? The couple collapsing? The winners? The crowds watching – wanting someone to fall? The role of radio? The money, the partner absconding with the funds? Lefty and his having to face the people, the angry reaction, especially from Lil Waters?

4. Lefty, his schemes? His love for Ruth? Clashes with her mother? His various plans – especially for the treasure hunt, ruining the businessmen after sweet-talking them? His going to New York, getting a room with Ruth and her mother? The meetings, his pretending to be successful? The clash with Ruth’s boyfriend and sponsor? His eventually having some success? Advertising the resort, the grapefruit acres? His going to Florida – the daughter pursuing him? His being left high and dry? His being arrested? His explanation of the situation – his finally coming to see Ruth, her suspicions of him, her mother’s sweet-talk? His performance – and tricking her into believing he was going to jail? The happy romantic ending?

5. Ruth, her mother, on the dance floor? Going to New York, model, the photographer, chaperoning her? Her love for Lefty? The clashes with her mother? Her seeing Lefty with the businessman’s daughter? Her finally being persuaded that he loved her?

6. Lil Waters, watching the marathon, taking over the attack on Lefty? Her selling the furniture to the dealer? Her absconding, the money, not paying the rent? The dealer and his disillusionment – and trying to get the money from Lefty? The landlady and her reaction? Lil and Ruth in New York, Ruth’s job, Lil wanting her to marry the photographer? Meeting up with Lefty, his staying, her antagonism, his success and her warming to him? Her ups and downs and manoeuvres? Smart-talk? Her finally accepting Lefty?

7. The world of big business, going bust, swindles, the police?

8. A 1930s screwball comedy, situations, character, dialogue?