The Roaring Twenties

 

 

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Warner Bros. Pictures presents "THE ROARING TWENTIES" (1939) (106 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Starring James Cagney, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Gladys George, Jeffrey Lynn & Frank McHugh

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Based upon an idea by Broadway columnist Mark Hellinger, The Roaring Twenties opens during World War I as Eddie Bartlett (Cagney), Lloyd Hart (Jeffrey Lynn) and George Hally (Bogart) discuss what they will do when the war is over. Bartlett wants to go back to repairing cabs, and Hart yearns to be a lawyer, but it becomes clear that Hally has less reputable plans in mind for himself. Come the end of the war, things are not as easy for veterans like Bartlett as they should be. He is unable to get his old job back and ends up driving a cab for little money. One night he is asked to deliver a package (which turns out to be whiskey) to an address that turns out to be a speakeasy. This starts him on a life of crime, as he gets deeper involved as a bootlegger. Things are not made easy by a rival bootlegger who turns out to be Hally. The two join forces and prosper. Hart shares in their prosperity, as Bartlett engages him to take care of his legal matters.

Bogart's portrayal was interesting as we watched him coldly murder an ex-army sergeant who had given him a rough time in the service

It is impressive the capacity of the screenplay writers and director Raoul Walsh in developing a complex and magnificent dramatic story of crime and romance, supported by historic events.

Cagney, whose energy gave him a panerotic sexual magnetism, was very evident with his two relationships which both tend to increase our valuation of Cagney as a person as are the two ladies involved: Priscilla Lane and Gladys George who both had feelings for him.

Fabulous in every way - a Warner Bros tour de force - Cagney & Bogie: the combination is dynamite!

BIOS:
1. Raoul Walsh (Director)
Date of Birth: 11 March 1887 - New York, New York
Date of Death: 31 December 1980 - Simi Valley, California

2. James Cagney [aka: James Francis Cagney]
Date of Birth: 17 July 1899 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 30 March 1986 - Stanfordville, New York

3. Humphrey Bogart
Date of Birth: 25 December 1899 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 14 January 1957 - Los Angeles, California

4. Priscilla Lane [aka: Priscilla Mullican]
Date of Birth: 12 June 1915 - Indianola, Iowa
Date of Death: 4 April 1995 - Andover, Massachusetts

5. Gladys George
Date of Birth: 13 September 1900 - Patten, Maine
Date of Death: 8 December 1954 - Los Angeles, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 106 min on DVD ~ Warner Bros. Pictures ~ (01/21/2005)

I caught this most poignant of gangster films on TV a few weeks ago, and I was so moved by James Cagney's performance...it is a cryng shame that only a handful of his movies have been released on DVD. Please, Warner Brothers, how about giving this gem a shot at the big-time?

One of my all-time favorite gangster movies. The Roaring 20's features James Cagney at his best as a returning WWI vet who has lost his job , turns to bootlegging and muscles his way to the top. Cagney is at his wisecracking tough guy peak in this and he is given a run for his money by Humphrey Bogart as his WWI buddy turned partner turned rival.
The movie traces these characters through the tumultuous speakeasy days. Cagney's character falls for a young singer who is in love with a young straightshooting attorney. Eddie(Cagney) has one loyal admirer in Panama Smith an aging speakeasy manager who is played flawlessly by Gladys George. She delivers the most memorable line in the movie "Get a Victrola- Jughead".

The story culminates with Eddie being ruined financially and having a showdown with Bogart's character that results in the death scene to end all death scenes. Cagney's staggeriing down the street and collapsing on the church steps after being shot has been often imitated but never duplicated.

A great movie and a piece of film history that stands up to repeated viewings.

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Decade That Roared, Tragically Captured on DVD
Raoul Walsh's "The Roaring Twenties" (1939) is an unintentionally laughable little bit of business that, at the time of its release was nominated for a Best Picture... Read more

Published on Mar 5 2005 by Nix Pix

4.0 out of 5 stars The Roar You Hear Is the Sound of Virtue Triumphant
Hollywood gangster films of the 1930s did more than merely entertain. The producers were careful to insure that each one became a mini-morality play with good in conflict with... Read more

Published on July 24 2002 by Martin Asiner

5.0 out of 5 stars IT'S ONLY A SHANTY...
Jimmy Cagney had the top spot in this piece which was reminiscent of his earlier successes in THE PUBLIC ENEMY & ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES. Read more

Published on Jun 16 2002 by scotsladdie

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