James Cagney Films of the 1930s
By (author) James L. Neibaur
Publication date:
03 October 2014Length of book:
228 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781442242197
One of the biggest stars of the golden age of Hollywood, James Cagney appeared in more than sixty films throughout his career. In addition to starring in the classics White Heat, Mister Roberts, and One, Two, Three, Cagney received the Academy Award for his performance as George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy. From his debut in Sinner’s Holiday to one of his many gangster portrayals in The Roaring Twenties, the actor appeared in more than thirty films of the 1930s. Though he started out in supporting roles, Cagney quickly became a leading man and by the end of the decade, he was a box-office star.
In James Cagney Films of the 1930s, James L. Neibaur reviews the first decade of the great actor’s work. A film-by-film look at Cagney’s movies during this pivotal period, this book traces the actor’s transition from a song-and-dance man on stage to a tough guy on screen. Although Cagney occasionally was able to deviate from studio typecasting—in such films as Footlight Parade and A Midsummer Night’s Dream—his most notable roles were in gangster dramas like The Public Enemy and Angels with Dirty Faces.
Throughout this book, Neibaur provides readers with plot summaries, production details, and critical and commercial reception of each film. For fans of the actor’s work, James Cagney Films of the 1930s is an invaluable resource that will also appeal to anyone interested in movie-making during one of Hollywood’s greatest eras.
In James Cagney Films of the 1930s, James L. Neibaur reviews the first decade of the great actor’s work. A film-by-film look at Cagney’s movies during this pivotal period, this book traces the actor’s transition from a song-and-dance man on stage to a tough guy on screen. Although Cagney occasionally was able to deviate from studio typecasting—in such films as Footlight Parade and A Midsummer Night’s Dream—his most notable roles were in gangster dramas like The Public Enemy and Angels with Dirty Faces.
Throughout this book, Neibaur provides readers with plot summaries, production details, and critical and commercial reception of each film. For fans of the actor’s work, James Cagney Films of the 1930s is an invaluable resource that will also appeal to anyone interested in movie-making during one of Hollywood’s greatest eras.
The amount of attention Neibaur pays to each film is striking, and his detailed breakdowns of individual scenes are not only insightful, but also convey a love and respect for Cagney and his work. One could watch a Cagney movie and enjoy him immensely, but the brilliance of his talent is really apparent while reading Neibaur’s book. The book is also complemented by a stunning array of publicity photos, screenshots, and movie posters featuring Cagney. With James Cagney Films of the 1930s, Neibaur more than succeeds at the book’s goal of examining the trajectory of Cagney’s career and how he developed his screen persona. This book is more insightful than any biography or overview of his entire filmography could ever be. That’s not to say that Cagney didn’t have a successful career following the 1930s; in fact, he continued to deliver amazing performances in an array of fantastic films, finally getting to branch out from his gangster persona a bit and even winning a Best Actor Oscar for 1942’s 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'. But by focusing on the career-defining years, Neibaur gives readers a chance to watch Cagney the movie star unfold before them, with bracketing chapters filling in the details on some of the rest of his career. It’s a fantastic read that is sure to become one of the definitive works on the great James Cagney.