James
Cagney
By
Dominic Nicosia
James Francis Cagney Jr. was born at what he commonly referred to
as the turn of the century, on July 17, 1899 in New York City. One
of the most diverse and talented actors of any given time, Cagney
led an extraordinary life from the start.
After working a series of odd jobs, Cagney spent six months at the
prestigious Columbia University. However, the death of his father
compelled him drop out to go back to work. Shortly after leaving school,
Jimmy received his first paid performance as a chorus girl in the
all male production, Every Sailor. Cagney received another theatre
role in 1920 in the Broadway show Pitter Patter; however it was not
until a decade later that he broke into the motion picture industry
in Sinner's Holiday. The recommendation from reputable actor, Al Jolson
garnered Cagney the part as well as a lengthy stay with Warner Brothers'.
It was during this era that Cagney began to solidify his reputation
as a solid "Gangster's" actor. While he was by no means
a character actor, his work in films like The Public Enemy (his first
film after Sinner's Holiday), The Roaring Twenties and Angels with
Dirty Faces established him as a tough guy.
The role of his life came in 1941 when he got to play award-winning
composer George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy. In addition to elevating
his status as a seriously gifted player in Hollywood, the role allowed
Cagney to branch out and exhibit a more light hearted side. Though
it won him his only Oscar, this was not the only truly solid biographical
performance he gave through his career. In 1957, Cagney was given
the great privilege and responsibility of playing screen legend Lon
Chaney in Man of a thousand faces, a film which many consider to be
his best work.
Among the numerous highlights of Cagney's theatrical tenure are a
lifetime achievement award from the American Film Institute in 1974
and a seemingly unlimited range of performances. Whether he was Nicholas
Condon, newspaper editor in Blood on the Sun, a vagabond who turned
a small town upside town in Johnny Come lately, a reflective alcoholic
in Time of your life or a gangster hood with a heart of gold in Love
me or leave me, his ability proved to be a valuable commodity and
joy to experience from part to part.
With 68 starring roles and a series of legendary cinematic moments
under his belt such as the dramatic ending to his last gangster film,
1949's White heat and his tear jerking misfortune in City for Conquest,
Cagney went on through five decades to develop and enjoy a wonderful
and storied movie career, a career which continued right up to two
years before his death of a heart attack in 1986. His last role was
the 1984 made for TV movie, Terrible Joe Moran. Although he is now
deceased, James Cagney's work will forever be justifiably synonymous
with diversity, authenticity and passion.