GREAT GUY
US, 1936, 66 minutes, Black-and-white.
James Cagney, Mae Clarke, James Burke, Edward Brophy, Henry Kolker, Bernadene Hayes, Edward Mc Namara, Robert Gleckler, Joe Sawyer, Edward Gargan.
Directed by John G. Blystone.
James Cagney had already proven himself a star at Warner Brothers in the first part of the 1930s, especially with Public Enemy (which included the famous scene with his co-star in this present film, Mae Clarke, squashing the grapefruit in her face!).
While Cagney is typically pugnacious in the central role, he is on the side of the law. He works for the Department of Weights and Measures and comes up against a crooked alderman and his henchman, pressures on him to falsify documents. However, he is staunch in his position and stands his ground.
Brief running time, but a small moralising film of the mid 30s and an opportunity again to see Cagney on screen.
1. A small James Cagney film of the 1930s? His career at Warner Bros? Tough image? Films with his genial image? Combined here? The title?
2. The strong cast, Cagney and Mae Clark, the range of character actors.
3. The background of the Department of Weights and Measures? The leader, involved in a car accident, victim of attempted murder, hospital, contacting Johnny Cave, putting him in charge? Cave talking to the squad, Pat Haley and his Irish accent and stories, flirting with Hazel, chatting with Johnny, accompanying him on the rounds, the market, the weight in the chicken, the other weights, handing out tickets and summonses?
4. Johnny, the relationship with Janet, secretary to Canning? Promoting his good name? The phone calls, the outings, Johnny being late, the verbal sparring, her being in control? The celebration at the Ritz – but going to the diner, the fat man taking the food and Johnny firing pellets at him through the straw? The visit from Cavanagh, trying to get him onside, the job, the salary, the benefits? Johnny and his refusal, ousting Cavanagh? The thugs arriving, in the car, the crash, Johnny injured, the alcohol, taken to court, Cavanagh coming to rescue him?
5. The visit to the mayor, the mayor putting pressure on him? Seeing the phone message about Canning and the firing of the head of the orphanage? His going to visit the orphanage, talking with the head and her being fired, the deliveries, waiting them, the summons?
6. Meeting Pete, Canning’s office, the reminiscences about the fighting days, the invitation to the party?
7. Johnny, the interview with the press, the newspapers, Janet being upset, cutting off Johnny? Canning upset, hiring Burton, tripping on the stairs and bashing Johnny, taking the papers and hiding them in his apartment? The police, the key? Johnny searching?
8. Going to the party, Burton and his dancing with the girls, talking with Canning, the previous phone call, the blackmail, $5000? The meeting, Canning writing the cheque? Johnny following Canning, getting Haley to break off his flirting and talking Irish stories to watch Burton? Johnny illustrating the bout with the technique and knocking out Burton?
9. Contacting the police, going to the apartment, Canning recovering the documents, the fight, the police arriving, Johnny and his fight with Cavanagh, the officer letting the fight go on while he finished his cigar?
10. Janet, disillusion with Canning, reconciliation with Johnny? The issue of money, the ring, instalment plans, the romantic scenes and their being in the shop buying furniture?
