This is a film that all not a classic certainly deserves to be better known than it is. I had certainly never heard of the film when I found it on very late at night on the BBC the other day (we really do take for granted the treats the BBC sometimes serve up late at night) but was pleasantly surprised by what I found here. A James Cagney film where as usual he dominates every scene he is in but here it is a bit more under stated than normal. Here Cagney plays Tom Richards a vagrant who stumbles across a small town that is being crippled by corruption. Richards finds a friend in the proprietor of the local paper and few moral people left in town Miss Grace George. Slowly Richards back story is hinted at, which brings depth and meaning to his character. Cagney is so good here you wish to see another film showing how his character got to the point where we are introduced to him in the movie. As Cagney powers through the movie we see him work his magic on the towns folk all leading to an inevitable yet subtle and enjoyable ending. Whilst I would not look to purchase this movie. I would certainly watch it again the next time I find it on television.
Review of Johnny Come Lately
