A nice cast elevates this melodrama about good-guy James Cagney ("Danny Kenny" ) trying to win over career-minded Ann Sheridan ("Peggy Nash"). Cagney's "Danny" is a regular kind of guy. All he wants in life is a nice, simple job and to settle down with his lifelong girlfriend "Peg."
"Peg" likes him, too, but wants her dancing career and the limelight more. Several times she breaks poor Danny's heart. Meanwhile, Danny has a talent for prizefighting but no desire to do it for a living. He doesn't want to hurt anybody. Near the end, he resorts to a ring career only as a last-ditch attempt to win his girl......with tragic results
This is not a Cagney gangster movie nor a boxing film. It is simply a drama-romance with some boxing thrown in, and only one fight highlighted. That main event in which Cagney is blinded by his opponent cheating is a painful segment to watch, especially since it results in a brutal beating. What happens afterward makes this movie special.
There are some memorable scenes in this movie, both tough and tender. The finish is an old-fashioned touching one guaranteed to bring a tear or two to anyone's eyes who has a heart.
There are a number of dated lines of dialog, but hearing the lingo of the day is kind of fun. Cagney, as usual, is extremely interesting to watch. He's the best of a good cast. Included in that cast is famous director Elia Kazan, who plays "Googie." Kazan shows he could act, too. The film also marked the acting debut of Arthur Kennedy, who plays Cagney's brother "Eddie." Kennedy's role is a key one in the emotional ending.
Overall, this is really good storytelling and movie-making, the kind that gives "the classic era" a good reputation.
"Peg" likes him, too, but wants her dancing career and the limelight more. Several times she breaks poor Danny's heart. Meanwhile, Danny has a talent for prizefighting but no desire to do it for a living. He doesn't want to hurt anybody. Near the end, he resorts to a ring career only as a last-ditch attempt to win his girl......with tragic results
This is not a Cagney gangster movie nor a boxing film. It is simply a drama-romance with some boxing thrown in, and only one fight highlighted. That main event in which Cagney is blinded by his opponent cheating is a painful segment to watch, especially since it results in a brutal beating. What happens afterward makes this movie special.
There are some memorable scenes in this movie, both tough and tender. The finish is an old-fashioned touching one guaranteed to bring a tear or two to anyone's eyes who has a heart.
There are a number of dated lines of dialog, but hearing the lingo of the day is kind of fun. Cagney, as usual, is extremely interesting to watch. He's the best of a good cast. Included in that cast is famous director Elia Kazan, who plays "Googie." Kazan shows he could act, too. The film also marked the acting debut of Arthur Kennedy, who plays Cagney's brother "Eddie." Kennedy's role is a key one in the emotional ending.
Overall, this is really good storytelling and movie-making, the kind that gives "the classic era" a good reputation.