White Heat

A great gangster flick from 1949, anybody else here see it?

Any thoughts?

Of course, one of the best. Cagney's performance is so intense and there are those psychological elements to it.

I haven't seen it, but I do know that in 2008, it was rated by the American Film Institute as the fourth best American gangster movie ever made, behind only The Godfather, Goodfellas and The Godfather Part II (in that order). That's quite an honor.

Excellent film.
The dialogue and writing is very good.

Absolutely the best gangster movie pre-1950. Arguably Cagney's most brilliant performance--certainly his most forceful and layered. The rest of the cast is great, dialog superb, direction tops. I never tire of seeing it.

One of my all time favorites!






And speaking of "MAAA," Margaret Wycherly is great as Cody Jarrett's mother, Ma Jarrett.

Ma Jarrett: I told you, Cody hasn't been in California for months.
Philip Evans: I suppose he shot me all the way from another state.
Ma Jarrett: What makes you think *he* shot you? Lots of people have guns.



Ironically Cagney didn't want to take on the 'stereotypical' gangster persona and yet that role turned out to be probably his best ever as a gangster!


"I told you to keep away from that radio. If that battery is dead it'll have company."

If I turned my back long enough for Big Ed to put a hole in it - there'd be a hole in it.

This is also an accurate description of life in a corporation...

"Air? I'll give you some fresh air!" [bang. bang.]