I'm looking for some great James Cagney movies...

[CaptainAwesome]

I generally consider myself a movie-buff, but I'm not really an expert by any means. Anyway, I've realized lately that I have never actually seen a movie with James Cagney who I'm told is one of the greatest actors ever. So my question is what are some of his best movies? I dont care if they are gangster epics or song and dance romps, but I want to see something with him in it. Thaks for your help.

[Julusnc]

White Heat and Yankee Doodle Dandy are my two favorite Cagney movies.

Mr Roberts is amazing as well because of the great cast.

[Zero Hunter]

I would say Mr. Roberts and Yankee Doodle Dandy. Mr. Roberts has always been one of my favorite movies and with a cast of Cagney, Henry Fonda, and Jack Lemmon it has a hell of alot of star power in it.

[Buzz Dixon]

THE PUBLIC ENEMY is the film that made him a star, somewhat dated in technique but yowza!, what energy does he put on the screen.

THE ROARING TWENTIES is probably the slickest gangster film he made, probably a bhit more accessible to modern audiences than THE PUBLIC ENEMY. Bonus points for having Humphrey Bogart in one of his last supporting roles before hitting the big time with HIGH SIERRA.

WHITE HEAT is the most modern of his gangster movies in terms of the psychological complexity of his character. The ending has been ripped off about 80 gajillion times.

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES has him and Pat O'Brien as best friends who took different career paths, with O-Brien becoming a priest and Cagney becoming a gangster. I won't spoil the ending except to say it won't leave a dry eye in the house.

THE FIGHTING 69th co-stars O'Brien again, and this time they're fighting the Germans in WWI when they're not fighting each other.

I wouldn't call THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE great but I like it, so take that for what it's worth...

ONE, TWO, THREE is a cold war spoof he made for director Billy Wilder in which he plays a soft drink executive trying to peddle his product on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Hilarious -- especially the capper gag.

[Cash Lone]

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES has him and Pat O'Brien as best friends who took different career paths, with O-Brien becoming a priest and Cagney becoming a gangster. I won't spoil the ending except to say it won't leave a dry eye in the house.


Fantastic ending to that movie. I saw it as a kid - still vividly remember it.

[ragnarok_2012]

I've watched about three quarters of Yankee Doodle Dandy. Cagney was an incredible dancer, and he's certainly got presence.

And I'll second the Roaring Twenties. It's a lot of fun.