tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post4008767827226029392..comments2024-03-16T10:03:59.180-07:00Comments on The Movie Projector: White Heat (1949)R. D. Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-13970105888842335822013-04-15T22:52:15.679-07:002013-04-15T22:52:15.679-07:00Jenni, thank you. So pleased you enjoyed the bloga...Jenni, thank you. So pleased you enjoyed the blogathon, and I sure can't disagree with you about "White Heat" being a masterpiece.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-17516965819027256322013-04-15T18:29:45.314-07:002013-04-15T18:29:45.314-07:00I have enjoyed this Cagney blogathon very much and...I have enjoyed this Cagney blogathon very much and White Heat is a masterpiece, as far as I am concerned. Thanks for the info on how Cagney prepped to play his mental breakdown scene in the prison when his character learns that Ma is dead. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-23470825496350100272013-04-14T21:42:40.184-07:002013-04-14T21:42:40.184-07:00Le, greetings to you and I'm glad you enjoyed ...Le, greetings to you and I'm glad you enjoyed the blogathon. Thanks also to your vlog contribution, which was a real treat. Yes, "White Heat" seems to have a depth that simpler Cagney gangster pictures like "The Public Enemy" don't have, and Cody Jarrett seems a more complex personality than the gangsters Cagney played in the 30s.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-32802792628013422292013-04-14T21:36:21.518-07:002013-04-14T21:36:21.518-07:00Silver Screenings, thank you. Cagney might have ma...Silver Screenings, thank you. Cagney might have made the film in exchange for Warners paying off the losses of "The Time of Your Life," but that didn't stop him from giving himself over to the part 100% and trying to make it the best picture he could.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-42916354831476799402013-04-14T18:12:52.085-07:002013-04-14T18:12:52.085-07:00First, Rich, thanks for hosting this amazing bloga...First, Rich, thanks for hosting this amazing blogathon, the fun seems to never end.<br />What a great essay. If not the best gangster performance by Cagney, one of the best. The mental explanation to his behavior didn't age, and, while in The Publiv Enemy the environment made he become a gangster, here we have a plethera of possibilities. Great, great film!<br />Greetings! Lêhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419693749682458647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-43972245247184228742013-04-14T12:02:30.332-07:002013-04-14T12:02:30.332-07:00"A good picture in a number of ways." !!..."A good picture in a number of ways." !! I'll say.<br /><br />Terrific review of this iconic movie. Thanks for providing the background info that lead to Cagney's decision to make it for Warner Brothers.Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-9098849516120901922013-04-14T11:57:01.061-07:002013-04-14T11:57:01.061-07:00Eve, thank you. I got the same impression about Ca...Eve, thank you. I got the same impression about Cagney's modesty. He called "White Heat" a "good picture." I call it a great one. I suspect he indulged in understatement when he made that comment about acting being just a job. He said elsewhere that the best screen actors had an unidentifiable quality that set them apart, so he must have known he was one of that elite group. But he had no patience with actors who waited for inspiration to come to them or who tried to project their own qualities rather than the character's. He was a hard worker all his life and never a quitter, probably not awfully different from the go-getters he played in those early films, just less brash. The way he described his early days at Warners--the way studio bosses considered being a contract player one step up from indentured servitude--he had to be or he wouldn't have survived. As you mention, one thing you get from nearly all Cagney performances is his energetic enthusiasm, and I get this impression of the private Cagney too. In real life he seems to have had as well a thoughtful quietness that you seldom saw on screen. R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-21024198569185673612013-04-13T12:34:43.138-07:002013-04-13T12:34:43.138-07:00R.D., This is a terrific take on “White Heat” as w...R.D., This is a terrific take on “White Heat” as well as Cagney as an actor. About Cagney’s approach to acting you point out that he “relied on his instincts and above all preparation and hard work to put his characters across.” It seems the same instincts and hard work that served him so well as a boy – in surviving the streets of the lower east side, holding down multiple part-time jobs at a time, etc. - served him at least as well as an artist. I have to wonder if his statement that acting was simply a job that put “groceries on the table” was his modesty speaking. In his best work (like “White Heat,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy”), he seems positively exultant, even joyful (as well as brilliant). So much more than a "journeyman actor." Thank you for an eloquent, thought-provoking read. And thank you for hosting the Cagney Blogathon, a first-rate event for a mythic talent.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-33389264269857924762013-04-12T16:51:08.277-07:002013-04-12T16:51:08.277-07:00Thank you, Filmboy. Cagney and Walsh went all out ...Thank you, Filmboy. Cagney and Walsh went all out to make "White Heat" more than just another gangster film, and did they succeed! Although Cagney was quite modest about the film's achievements, it's a classic whose reputation seems to have steadily grown since its release.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-79713194128494621262013-04-12T16:47:04.374-07:002013-04-12T16:47:04.374-07:00Jon, thank you. I find that "White Heat"...Jon, thank you. I find that "White Heat" is one of those films you can revisit from time to time without fear of getting tired of it. Even if you know what's coming, it's so exciting that you can enjoy it all over again without it diminishing the memory of seeing it for the first time. That's rewatchability!R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-89442828740845058602013-04-12T16:42:15.710-07:002013-04-12T16:42:15.710-07:00Ken, I'm sort of in the same boat as you with ...Ken, I'm sort of in the same boat as you with seeing Cagney films, though in the runup to the blogathon I've made an effort to watch some of the ones I've never seen. Thanks for the compliment about the descriptive writing. Cagney was such a colorful actor--and his character interpretations seem so thoroughly thought-out--that I basically just described what he did. <br /><br />Cagney DID have a special quality (or maybe a cluster of them) that's hard to put a name to, unlike some other actors who are special but in more identifiable ways. I became really aware of how physical Cagney's acting is only after reading up a bit on his love of dancing then noticing how much he used this skill in his acting. He writes that the first time he played a boxer his boxing coach couldn't believe he'd never fought professionally because his footwork was so refined and precise. In some ways his onscreen intensity reminds me of some of the actresses of the 30s like Davis, Stanwyck, and Hepburn. The characters they played always seemed so COMPLETE, they were always identifiable as both themselves and the character, and they always gave 100% of their effort to their acting no matter what they thought of the script, director, or rest of the cast.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-13424767167065155622013-04-12T16:29:14.501-07:002013-04-12T16:29:14.501-07:00Cliff, actually nobody expressed an interest in wr...Cliff, actually nobody expressed an interest in writing on either "White Heat" or "Yankee Doodle Dandy," a surprise to me because I thought they would be the first two to go. So I lucked out in being able to write on my favorite Cagney film and performance without pulling rank! Writing on the film did have its downside: writing about a film so special can be a daunting task. "Angels with Dirty Faces" is another good one, although I like Cagney in the film more than the film. It was the only other example I could think of in which Cagney has a mental breakdown, although I've always thought that Rocky Sullivan was faking it. And of course I agree that the breakdown in "White Heat" is not only real (for the character) but does give Cagney full scope to use his physical presence, whereas in "Angels" he's being restrained by guards. Glad you were able to participate in the blogathon and that you chose a film ("G-Men") that I felt needed to be covered.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-22605311175285935172013-04-12T15:27:11.913-07:002013-04-12T15:27:11.913-07:00This piece is inspired. You perfectly capture the ...This piece is inspired. You perfectly capture the power of this film that was could have been "just another gangster movie," but Cagney gives a bold performance that is terrifying, not only in its intensity but in its realism. Classicfilmboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278928051994100842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-86415806163924008132013-04-12T12:38:52.449-07:002013-04-12T12:38:52.449-07:00So let's see, as organizer you got to choose f...So let's see, as organizer you got to choose first, right? I'd say this is the ultimate Cagney, though I'm with you and Kevin on it and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" being the best of the bunch. I'm hesitant to put one ahead of the other, though personally my preference probably comes down to the mood I'm in that day. <br /><br />Personally I like "Angels With Dirty Faces," a lot, and enjoyed your comparison of the big dining hall scene here with the final scene in that Cagney classic. The edge is here though since we get to see his body do everything it should when overcome by so much emotion. Nice info on O'Brien's reaction too, I'd noticed that before and been curious.<br /><br />What an actor--and what a Blogathon. Thanks for hosting and thanks once more for allowing me to join so late.Cliff Alipertihttp://immortalephemera.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-21552203678660205592013-04-11T05:31:53.524-07:002013-04-11T05:31:53.524-07:00This is one of the all time greats and you give us...This is one of the all time greats and you give us all reason to check it out again. Great analysis of Cagney's acting style and the portrayal of the psychosis angle. Wonderful post.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10656287096270976604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-42926253054477365202013-04-10T23:05:25.637-07:002013-04-10T23:05:25.637-07:00I haven't seen a lot of Cagney's films, bu...I haven't seen a lot of Cagney's films, but thanks to TCM I think I have seen almost all of his greatest films, and "White Heat" surely tops my list. I have said before how much I like your descriptive writing style, but you really top yourself in being able to convey the forcefulness of Cagney in this role.<br />He's so gifted and unlike any other actor that it's often hard to pin down precisely what his "oomph" quality is. I think you nailed it in detailing the physicality of his acting. I really enjoyed this post and thanks for including that clip of his prison breakdown scene. Reading how beautifully you described it made me want to see it again, and there it was! Thanks!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-50144438635210727762013-04-10T17:07:17.434-07:002013-04-10T17:07:17.434-07:00John, it sure would make a good introduction to cl...John, it sure would make a good introduction to classic film. If only the modern movies that try to be "tough, cynical, and violent" could do it this well more often. Scorsese can do it when inspired, but I just can't get behind the Tarantino school of crime and violence. He doesn't seem to know the difference between cynical and crude, a distinction that "White Heat" seems to grasp.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-7487147603652587332013-04-10T17:01:00.653-07:002013-04-10T17:01:00.653-07:00Thank you, Sam. It's my favorite Cagney perfor...Thank you, Sam. It's my favorite Cagney performance and favorite Cagney film too. Walsh is considered one of the great studio directors and was one of the half dozen or so directors chosen by Richard Schickel for his "The Men Who Made the Movies" series. Although I enjoy the kind of action picture he was so good at, it's not my favorite kind of studio movie. He did make several movies I like very much ("The Roaring Twenties" and "High Sierra" immediately come to mind, as well as the early 20th-century Americana of "Gentlemen Jim" and Cagney's "The Strawberry Blonde" and the noirish musical "The Man I Love," which I've always had a soft spot for). But for me "White Heat" is his masterpiece. The film has many understandably famous scenes, but I have to confess my favorite moment isn't one of the big ones, but the one you mention, when the now completely mad Cody shoots the holes in the trunk of the car with one hand to let in some air while munching on a snack with his other hand!R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-24931894424650153652013-04-10T16:47:58.513-07:002013-04-10T16:47:58.513-07:00GOM, thank you so much. And thank you for adding y...GOM, thank you so much. And thank you for adding your insights into the film. Cagney was no Method actor, but he WAS a methodical actor. From what I've read about him, he based his performances on meticulous advance thinking and preparation but wasn't afraid to be spontaneous if he thought something more was needed. He wrote of what hard work acting is, and for someone so methodical, I'm sure it was! In the future, I'll be watching for the shift in the Cagney-O'Brien dynamic now that you've pointed it out. I can see your point about Cagney setting up O'Brien to become a partner in crime, and I think this misplaced trust is the way O'Brien is able to bring him down.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-42159914931123920562013-04-10T16:38:58.614-07:002013-04-10T16:38:58.614-07:00Kevin, Cagney WAS an incredibly versatile actor, a...Kevin, Cagney WAS an incredibly versatile actor, and it's interesting that you picked such opposite characters as his greatest acting achievements. I'd likely put these two performances at the head of the list too, although in the reverse order from you. Those two films would be an ideal double feature to show Cagney's range. Some great actors like Cary Grant never struck me as really comfortable and secure when they tried something outside their normal range, even though they could be very good in such roles. But I never get this feeling from Cagney, and I think the fact that he considered himself a working actor and not a star with an image to protect gave him the courage to try new things. In his private life too he was very much the working man who shunned celebrity.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-76962386887781005692013-04-10T16:28:26.556-07:002013-04-10T16:28:26.556-07:00Caftan Woman, what a great idea to use this film a...Caftan Woman, what a great idea to use this film as an introduction to classic movies for young people. Its violence and perversity are mild compared even to what's shown on TV these days. But its toughness makes it seem more a forerunner of today's crime films than a relic. I know that one way kids learn (everyone, for that matter) is to see the similarity between what's new to them and what's already familiar.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-63507421428047377612013-04-10T15:35:27.294-07:002013-04-10T15:35:27.294-07:00Patti, those are three wonderful performances you ...Patti, those are three wonderful performances you name, all in a similar vein but all distinct from each other. So I can see how you would have a hard time picking one over the other! You're not the first to mention Margaret Wycherly in a comment. In rewatching the film in preparation for writing the post, I became more aware than ever before of how good she is as Cody's Ma. I have to second your observation that both she and Cagney should have at least gotten Oscar nominations. The film did get one nomination for screenwriting, which I find interesting in view of Cagney's comments in his autobiography about his poor first impression of the script. Reading his autobiography was a real eye-opener for me because the real man was so balanced, sensitive, and clearly observant and intelligent. What a focused and committed actor he must have been to play characters so different from himself so convincingly.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-76151000770021051322013-04-10T15:26:07.491-07:002013-04-10T15:26:07.491-07:00Thanks, Rick! "White Heat" does seem an ...Thanks, Rick! "White Heat" does seem an advance on the traditional studio gangster picture, and it does seem to lead the way for, as you say, greater realism, more brutality, and more psychological insight into character behavior--the things we take for granted in modern crime movies and TV shows. Knowing how extensive Martin Scorsese's knowledge of American films of this time is, and how the crime dramas of the late 40s-early 50s (which were shown in theaters when he was a boy) appeal to him, this time when I watched "White Heat" I saw more of a connection between it and Scorsese's crime films.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-3263779449557275302013-04-10T15:16:53.473-07:002013-04-10T15:16:53.473-07:00Judy, I'll watch anything with Cagney in it, a...Judy, I'll watch anything with Cagney in it, and I agree it's hard to pick a favorite Cagney performance. Most people probably think of him for his criminal characters, but he successfully played many different types of characters, which is something I hope people take away from the blogathon. But if I had to pick one favorite/best Cagney performance it would be this one. I think the ultimate lame psychiatric explanation has to be at the end of "Psycho." It's so lame and the psychiatrist so hammy that I have to believe Hitchcock used it at least in part as a sendup of this kind of scene. And yes, when the 50-year old Cagney sits in Ma's lap he looks and behaves like a middle-aged infant. It should be campy but it's not in the least.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-33967054603218659492013-04-10T15:05:32.651-07:002013-04-10T15:05:32.651-07:00One of his greatest films, a masterful interrputat...One of his greatest films, a masterful interrputation of a crazed hood on the loose. Along with ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES probably my two favorite Cagney films. I would think this would be a good film to introduce young folks to classic films. It's tough, cynical and violent. Fantastic piece, Richard!John/24Frameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14719659042858962026noreply@blogger.com