A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring escape from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll robbery. Shortly after the plan goes into effect, things begin to go woefully astray. Academy Award Nominations: Best Motion Picture Story.
James Cagney solidified his tough guy persona in this brutal gangster opus about a vicious man who still loves his Ma.
Cody Jarrett, the leader of a gang out west, has been busy knocking over banks and holding up trains. Complicating matters some, he has in tow his beloved Ma, his cool blonde beauty, Verna, and a suave double-crossing hood, Big Ed.
The feds manage to put Cody behind bars on a minor charge. They then decide to plant an undercover agent in Cody's prison cell to win his confidence and encourage him to spill the beans about his criminal history.
After a prison riot, Cody escapes. He leads the police on a chase through a mazelike chemical factory that culminates Cody's life of crime... and Cody insists on going out in his own blaze of glory.
A colorized version is also available.
Excerpt: "Finally made it, Ma! Top o' the world!" -- Cody Jarrett (JAMES CAGNEY) to his absent mother (MARGARET WYCHERLY)
DVD Features:
Region [unknown]
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Mono 1.0 English
Distributor Notes: In his last role as a heartless gangster, James Cagney embarks on a prison break of a lifetime in this chilling tale that features one of the most riveting finales in movie history.
Source: Warner Home Video
Director of Photography
Sidney Hickox: Director of Photographer
Writer
Ivan Goff: Screenwriter
Art Director
Edward Carrere: Art Director
Review 1:
"[An] exceptional gangster drama..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.E10 01/23/2005
Review 2:
"Blisteringly paced by director Raoul Walsh and better than ever, this powerhouse cult movie marked a kind of comeback for Cagney."
Source: USA Today
p.4D 01/28/2005
Review 3:
"[A] hard-boiled masterpiece..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.68 01/28/2005
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