Life through a Lense # 13

James Cagney 1936-Susan M Kelly

Al Pacino 1973-publicity still for Serpico

Two actors separated by 37 years these face shots show the contrast between the eras

MY HIT LIST # 56 James Cagney-I aint so tough

Cagney; there was no one like him and during his classic gangster movies, The Public enemy, Angels with dirty faces, The roaring twenties and White Heat he went out in style. Each movie had him paying for his deeds with his life the pay off in each the stuff of movie legend. I love Cagney and these four movies, along with Each Dawn I die, are among my favourite movies of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTXJyo5Vry4

the roaring twenties

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bytoID_SNnE

white heat

"I ain't so tough"

"He used to be a big shot"

"Made it Ma top of the world"

"All right, fellas... let's go and say a prayer for a boy who couldn't run as fast as I could."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwoiF2vTHyY

the public enemy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nld4DcRHME0

angels with dirty faces

Each Dawn I Die

One of my favourite movies starring one my favourite movie stars James Cagney this prison drama has the charismatic Cagney joined by real life hood turned movie star George Raft. This movie is less known than Cagney’s great four movies; The Public enemy, The Roaring twenties, Angels with dirty faces and White Heat. It is a film that has the lot; Unjust imprisonment, murder, snithches, brutal gaurds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ2bvo5S6Y4

Here's the story:
When Frank Ross played by Cagney, reporter for the Bantom newspaper, exposes the DA's corruption he is framed on a drunk driving charge. Knocked unconscious and doused with alcohol, Ross is placed in a moving car, and when the car crashes into another vehicle and kills three people, he is convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to prison. There, Ross meets Stacey,played by real life bad boy George Raft, a notorious racketeer who is serving a life term, and the two become friends. Stacey makes a deal with Ross to implicate him in a prison killing, which would then be tried at the county courthouse where his mob can free him. In return, Stacey promises to track down the man who framed Ross.

The break is a success, but Stacey feels betrayed when Ross tips off his reporter friends about the escape, and so refuses to help Ross. As Ross is sentenced to the "hole", his sweetheart makes Stacey realise that Ross kept his word, so winning Stacey's sympathy . In the hole, Ross becomes embittered at the brutality of the guards and lack of justice, but on hearing  pleas on his behalf  the warden agrees to recommend him for parole. However, the parole board is headed by the DA's man who denies the reporter his freedom.

Meanwhile, Stacey discovers that Polecat Carlisle, the man hired to frame Ross, is in prison, and to repay his debt to Ross, Stacey returns to prison to find Polecat. During an abortive jail break, Stacey forces Polecat to confess to Ross's crime in front of the warden. Stacey dies in the break attempt, but Ross lives to be exonerated and to see the real criminals indicted.
A triumph of good over evil the old fashoioned way with Cagney and Raft on top form.