ONCE KNOWN AS "the Professional Againster", a handle hung on him by Studio head honcho, Jack Warner, James Cagney had two periods in his career when he booked from his home studio. Seeking some sort of sweeter deal or possibly recognition as a producer, he took legal action in order to assure his exit.
POVERTY ROW STUDIO, Grand National Pictures (they with the huge building clock as trademark)came calling and Jimmy answered. A two picture followed, SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT (1937) and today's honoree, GREAT GUY (1936).
THIS PARTICULAR STORY had Cagney as the Good Guy, rather than being the Anti-Hero* criminal. Mr. Cagney was an investigator for the Department of Weights and Measures in NYC. His job was to protect the public from unscrupulous merchants and their cheating scams. From gas stations to meat markets, he and assistant James Burke, exposed and brought wrong doers to justice.
INASMUCH AS THIS may have been just a tad too tame, not to mention dull and uninteresting, a subplot was in order.
ROUNDING OUT THE story was a personal look at the man away from the job. We are shown how an honest public official may struggle in trying to live the American Dream.
IN THIS CASE, Johnny 'Red' Cave and Fiancé, Janet Henry (Mae Clarke*) are shown making plans for a life of matrimonial bliss; but running into the proverbial brick wall of too little money with so much of the month to go. One scene cleverly opens with the couple discussing these problems; while they were sitting on a couch and easy chair in their living room. A long camera shot revealed them to be in a furniture store.
FILLING OUT THE cast were such staunch and enjoyable supporting actors; such as James Burke, Ed Brophy, Mary Gordon, Joe Sawyer and Dwight Frye; the guy who had gained such recognition at Universal with such creepy characterizations as Fritz (FRANKENSTEOIN, 1931) and Renfield (DRACULA, also 1931) and Carl (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, 1935).**
SOME OF THE scams portrayed in GREAT GUY were reprised in the 1950's TV Series, RACKET SQUAD with Reed Hadley as Captain Braddock.
AS FAR AS the financial rewards of the Cagney-Grand National Pact, we guess that Mr. Cagney did okay; but these two movies spelled disaster for Grand National, who went belly up, drowning in a deluge of red ink.
CAN YOU SAY law of diminishing returns?
NOTE * Yes, this is the one and same Mae Clarke who portrayed fiancé, Elizabeth, in FRANKENSTEIN and Cagney girlfriend, Kitty in THE PUBLIC ENEMY. Good thing there were no grapefruits on the set!
NOTE ** Mr. Dwight Frye, who met fame through his uncanny ability in creating the most horrifying characters, oddly enough was known for his work in romantic and musical production on stage. He appeared in both Cagney-Grand National collaborations.
POVERTY ROW STUDIO, Grand National Pictures (they with the huge building clock as trademark)came calling and Jimmy answered. A two picture followed, SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT (1937) and today's honoree, GREAT GUY (1936).
THIS PARTICULAR STORY had Cagney as the Good Guy, rather than being the Anti-Hero* criminal. Mr. Cagney was an investigator for the Department of Weights and Measures in NYC. His job was to protect the public from unscrupulous merchants and their cheating scams. From gas stations to meat markets, he and assistant James Burke, exposed and brought wrong doers to justice.
INASMUCH AS THIS may have been just a tad too tame, not to mention dull and uninteresting, a subplot was in order.
ROUNDING OUT THE story was a personal look at the man away from the job. We are shown how an honest public official may struggle in trying to live the American Dream.
IN THIS CASE, Johnny 'Red' Cave and Fiancé, Janet Henry (Mae Clarke*) are shown making plans for a life of matrimonial bliss; but running into the proverbial brick wall of too little money with so much of the month to go. One scene cleverly opens with the couple discussing these problems; while they were sitting on a couch and easy chair in their living room. A long camera shot revealed them to be in a furniture store.
FILLING OUT THE cast were such staunch and enjoyable supporting actors; such as James Burke, Ed Brophy, Mary Gordon, Joe Sawyer and Dwight Frye; the guy who had gained such recognition at Universal with such creepy characterizations as Fritz (FRANKENSTEOIN, 1931) and Renfield (DRACULA, also 1931) and Carl (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, 1935).**
SOME OF THE scams portrayed in GREAT GUY were reprised in the 1950's TV Series, RACKET SQUAD with Reed Hadley as Captain Braddock.
AS FAR AS the financial rewards of the Cagney-Grand National Pact, we guess that Mr. Cagney did okay; but these two movies spelled disaster for Grand National, who went belly up, drowning in a deluge of red ink.
CAN YOU SAY law of diminishing returns?
NOTE * Yes, this is the one and same Mae Clarke who portrayed fiancé, Elizabeth, in FRANKENSTEIN and Cagney girlfriend, Kitty in THE PUBLIC ENEMY. Good thing there were no grapefruits on the set!
NOTE ** Mr. Dwight Frye, who met fame through his uncanny ability in creating the most horrifying characters, oddly enough was known for his work in romantic and musical production on stage. He appeared in both Cagney-Grand National collaborations.