I really like this movie from the early days of the Hays Code. In this early period of the Hays Office, the standards for movies were still moderately loose and quite a few movies in the 30s featured graphic scenes of violence that would not have been allowed just a few years later. But, as a nod to the Hays Office, instead of the film being a typical gangster film (which the office was trying to reduce or eliminate since they glorified criminals--but the violence level was still very high and this would not change for another couple years). These films, by and large, are pretty interesting and have so pretty sordid and fantastic scenes. Unlike the later Cagney films for Warner Brothers, this one had scenes such as a closeup of a lady being killed in a phone booth and cars flying off the road in a hail of bullets and exploding! This movie is DEFINITELY would you would call an "Action Picture" and the film is both fascinating and briskly paced.
Jimmy Cagney plays a lawyer who hasn't got any clients. And, his friend from law school, a "G-Man" (an FBI agent), is murdered while in the line of duty. Cagney decides that since his life isn't going anywhere, he too will join the newly created FBI. But, in the early days of the Bureau, they have few enforcement powers and cannot legally carry guns. But, with a serious crime wave spreading throughout the country, the Congress grants them more powers and the right to bear arms. And, following this, the action definitely heats up--with battles involving shotguns, machine guns and .45s! Cagney grew up in the Bronx and actually knew many of the most wanted men who were all members of the same gang. With Cagney's bravery and resolve, the gang is eventually smashed and Jimmy gets the girl.
While the story is fictional, the background information about the bureau and the way they conducted business had a strong degree of realism that was unusual for films at that time. Great action scenes combined with excellent acting make this one of the very best Warner films of the crime genre.
By the way, the version I saw was from a 1949 re-release. It differed because it featured a very brief prologue praising the FBI before the actual film began.
Jimmy Cagney plays a lawyer who hasn't got any clients. And, his friend from law school, a "G-Man" (an FBI agent), is murdered while in the line of duty. Cagney decides that since his life isn't going anywhere, he too will join the newly created FBI. But, in the early days of the Bureau, they have few enforcement powers and cannot legally carry guns. But, with a serious crime wave spreading throughout the country, the Congress grants them more powers and the right to bear arms. And, following this, the action definitely heats up--with battles involving shotguns, machine guns and .45s! Cagney grew up in the Bronx and actually knew many of the most wanted men who were all members of the same gang. With Cagney's bravery and resolve, the gang is eventually smashed and Jimmy gets the girl.
While the story is fictional, the background information about the bureau and the way they conducted business had a strong degree of realism that was unusual for films at that time. Great action scenes combined with excellent acting make this one of the very best Warner films of the crime genre.
By the way, the version I saw was from a 1949 re-release. It differed because it featured a very brief prologue praising the FBI before the actual film began.