Irishchatter
I thought it was going to be OK for an underrated movie but in fact it was quite boring and just plain dull. I just think it wasn't a good idea for the lead character Biff to be a dentist as such and like falling for a blond headed woman won't save his skin of being just to get out of his misery. The storyline and the characters seem all over the place, maybe if there were less characters, I would understand the storyline really easily. I can say I'm glad to not have watched this more than 10 minutes as its just crap..
abcj-2
The first time I saw this film, I was so undone by the underhandedness and unfairness, that I swore it off for future viewings. Then it rolled around on TCM's schedule again, and I had forgotten most of the plot. On this viewing, I paid closer attention to every little detail, and I totally changed my mind about this surprising little film. It had little elements of hilarity that I had forgotten or totally missed the first time. Cagney is quite like that in his comedic roles, I've noticed, and De Hvilland is, too.After getting to know James Cagney and Jack Carson a bit better through numerous other films, I began to have a newfound attachment to this film. One main reason is that it just makes better sense when you pay close attention. Once that all happens, you see De Havilland is quite charming and her understated attractiveness totally envelops the cheap tramp ways of the usual bombshell, Rita Hayworth. The only thing that bothers me is the eight years it takes Biff (Cagney) to exact his revenge. Eight years is a long time, but it's a movie and it does fly by! And revenge is exacted. Just as romantic comedies go, there is a very happy ending. The best part is it is totally not formulaic and, therefore, a real surprise. De Havilland and Cagney have one of De Havilland's cutest scenes caught on film as the movie ends. It's a great ending and a surprising little gem made larger and greater by fantastic writing and a superior cast.
vincentlynch-moonoi
While James Cagney earned his reputation with gangster-related roles, I've never been a particular fan of him in that genre. It's when he stepped out of the gangster-genre that I found him quite appealing, particularly in roles where (as critic Bosley Crowther praised him in this film) he was pleasantly or appealingly "pugnacious".Although for a while it seems as if this is simply a light romance, it gets deeper and more involved when we realize that the Cagney character will go to prison for graft that he approved as a business partner to the sleazy, blow-hard Jack Carson. Carson is really the guilty one, but he gets off scot-free; Cagney was simply ignorant "rubber-stamping" his approval of what ended up being building code violations, including one that led to the death of his own father. Cagney takes the fall. But, comes out of prison a dentist! After getting out of prison, in a dental emergency, Cagney gets called to pull a tooth for Carson, and realizes he has the chance to kill Carson via nitrous oxide. He doesn't, and over the second half of the film we understand that rather than being a light romantic comedy, this is actually a beautiful love story.Cagney shines here, and is rather balanced in that he is subtle, when need be, but his usual slightly over-the-top when it is called for. He is balanced very nicely by Olivia de Havilland as the girl he first dislikes, but ultimately falls in love with and marries. Jack Carson plays his role as a wheeler-dealer to the hilt. Rita Hayworth, not usually a favorite of mine, is very good here as the sweet and ultimately not-so-sweet strawberry blonde.Notable character roles are played by Alan Hale, Sr., as Cagney's father (there's a wonderful scene with him under the influence of the laughing gas), and George Tobias as a Greek friend and neighbor. And, you'll learn a bit about turn-of-the-century dentistry and the use of leeches! Highly recommended, and perhaps one for your DVD shelf.
Boba_Fett1138
Who would had ever known that Raoul Walsh was also capable of making, fun, sweet, charming movies such as this one.It's a real irresistible movie, with a solid great and also quite original love-story, supported and uplifted even more by its great cast. It's the sort of story that sort of has it all; romance, drama and comedy. What I like about the movie is that it has all of the generic required elements but yet is non-formulaic. For instance the lead doesn't get the girl he wanted most and the leading lady has her own very free mind and will, especially for those days of course. The movie has several dramatic themes in it, as well as a sort of message in the end but above all the movie is a really fun one to watch. It has some great subtle comedy and I'm sure you'll discover new little subtle comedy elements in the movie each time you'll see it.James Cagney doesn't seem like the most likely choice for the leading role in a romantic movie. He was often type-casted as tough guys and he of course most certainly also did not had the right looks to play in a movie such as this one. But perhaps of that very same reason his character works out so well in the movie. It makes the story all the more believable and cuter, knowing that the main character isn't the prettiest or cutest boy on the block. On top of that, James Cagney was of course also a great actor, that could time well, which helps him in the more comical moments in the movie. The movie also has an impressive female cast with both Olivia de Havilland and Rita Hayworth. Two of THE leading ladies of the '40's. But also Alan Hale, Jack Carson and George Reeves where no unknowns.By todays standards the sets and background of the movie are all cheap and of course fake looking but this always has been sort of part of the charm of '40's movies. The musical score by Heinz Roemheld was surprisingly great (also Oscar nominated). I wish it was more present in the movie.A really recommendable movie.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
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