While I like watching James Cagney movies, I must admit that he was not exactly a subtle actor. While his bigger than life acting and dancing style often worked (such as in "White Heat" and many of his other tough-guy roles), sometimes it really came off as forced and a bit silly. Here in "A Lion Is In The Streets", it comes off as VERY forced and even more silly.
The film is a big of a reworking of the exploits of Huey Long. A similar concept was used in "All The King's Men" (a film that won its lead, Broderick Crawford, an Oscar)--but much more effectively. Part of it was Crawford's performance and part of was the script--but "A Lion" is not a particularly distinguished film.
The film begins with traveling salesman Cagney marrying a nice lady (Barbara Hale of "Perry Mason" fame). At first, Cagney seems like a likable and decent guy--a real man of the people. And he soon finds that through bluster that he's able to establish a name for himself--and eventually parlays it into political capital. However, he also soon shows that he's really in it for himself--as he begins an affair and uses people right and left. At times, still, you wonder is despite all this, he is still at heart a populist who cares--but you never really know. He talks a good talk but his morals are practically non-existent.
So why didn't I love the film? After all, the script idea isn't bad. But there were just too many crazy over the top scenes and it never even approaches subtlety or finesse. In particular, the courtroom scene is almost laughably bad--so over the top that it could only happen in a film! You just have to see it to believe it. Also, the final epilogue with the words of Lincoln were a great example of 'sledgehammer symbolism'--driving a point home so hard that it becomes painfully obvious and ridiculous. Toned down, this could have been very good. As is, I say just see the Crawford film--which, by the way, debuted four years earlier.
By the way, though it will probably not interest most, I was thrilled to see Burt Mustin in the film. He was a very prolific supporting actor on TV and occasionally acted in films--and always looked a bit like a turtle!
The film is a big of a reworking of the exploits of Huey Long. A similar concept was used in "All The King's Men" (a film that won its lead, Broderick Crawford, an Oscar)--but much more effectively. Part of it was Crawford's performance and part of was the script--but "A Lion" is not a particularly distinguished film.
The film begins with traveling salesman Cagney marrying a nice lady (Barbara Hale of "Perry Mason" fame). At first, Cagney seems like a likable and decent guy--a real man of the people. And he soon finds that through bluster that he's able to establish a name for himself--and eventually parlays it into political capital. However, he also soon shows that he's really in it for himself--as he begins an affair and uses people right and left. At times, still, you wonder is despite all this, he is still at heart a populist who cares--but you never really know. He talks a good talk but his morals are practically non-existent.
So why didn't I love the film? After all, the script idea isn't bad. But there were just too many crazy over the top scenes and it never even approaches subtlety or finesse. In particular, the courtroom scene is almost laughably bad--so over the top that it could only happen in a film! You just have to see it to believe it. Also, the final epilogue with the words of Lincoln were a great example of 'sledgehammer symbolism'--driving a point home so hard that it becomes painfully obvious and ridiculous. Toned down, this could have been very good. As is, I say just see the Crawford film--which, by the way, debuted four years earlier.
By the way, though it will probably not interest most, I was thrilled to see Burt Mustin in the film. He was a very prolific supporting actor on TV and occasionally acted in films--and always looked a bit like a turtle!