One, Two, Three (1961)

A Coca-Cola executive (James Cagney) in West Berlin dreams of being promoted to the London office. His boss asks a personal favor: keep an eye on his wild daughter for a few weeks. This proves to be a difficult task.

There is a significant tonal shift between Wilder’s screwball comedy Some Like it Hot (1959) and his black comedy The Apartment (1960). The tonal shift to One, Two, Three, however, is off the chart. The comedy is extremely broad and the pace is absolutely frenetic. I suggest subtitles.

Leon Askin, better known as General Burkhalter from Hogan’s Heroes, plays a Russian doing business with Cagney’s MacNamara. John Banner (Sargent Schultz) did some voice work. But it's Cagney's larger than life persona that takes up the vast majority of the film. His performance is breathtaking, quite literally.

There are several references to Cagney’s prior work, arranged like poorly hidden Easter eggs. At one point he quotes a line from Edward G. Robinson, whom he is often mistaken for.

The Berlin wall was erected during filming causing big problems. Production had to relocate to Munich, and now a major plot element (crossing back and forth between east and west) was no longer possible. Most importantly, the public’s view of the divided city and the cold war turned pretty negative. No longer a prime topic for a zany comedy, it bombed.

One, Two, Three is a peculiar film with a peculiar title. Very over-the-top comedy seldom works for me, but if you listen close you will hear Billy Wilder’s unique brand of wit. AMRU 3.5.

The Public Enemy (1931)

Local thug (James Cagney) earns a living as a thug.

The 30's had many gangster films, some fairly interesting. Like Scarface, we watch the rise and fall of a ruthless thug in the guise of a cautionary tale. Unlike Scarface, the story is only mildly amusing. Rife with clumsy camera work, the clumsy story showcases Cagney's better than fair acting and signature mannerisms (see Johnny Dangerously). Being early in the soundie era, the actors had to over project their voices.

Jean Harlow appears in a very early role. Not sure how she got to be such a sex symbol. For my money, I'd take old friend Joan Blondell. Or even Mae Clarke, whom some may remember as the young ingenue in Frankenstein. She got the pineapple treatment here.

A key film in the genre and definitely worth a viewing. Just don't expect to have your socks knocked off. AMRU 3.

"Why that dirty, no good, yellow-bellied stool. I'm gonna give it to him right in the head the first time I see him."

White Heat (1949)

White Heat is the story of Cody Jarrett (James Cagney), a ruthless gangster trying to evade the law after a train robbery. He figures it's only a matter of time before the cops catch up with him, so he arranges to be convicted of a lesser crime. He'll stay in jail for a couple years and be released when the heat is off. They cops don't buy it but don't have enough evidence to convict on the train job. They send a cop into the prison to pose as a cell mate and gain his trust.

Unlike most cop dramas I've watched, the police here aren't stupid. In fact, they are very resourceful. Their techniques for tailing cars and keeping track of the baddies was fascinating, this being before GPS and cell phones.

Cagney is the star and totally shines. Virginia Mayo (Cagney with a side of Mayo? Naw...) is his loyal trophy wife, stage actress Margaret Wycherly is his fixated-upon mother (think Ma Barker). While Cody's sanity is questioned, his brutality is not. he is unflinching when offing police, robbery victims who might be able to identify him, and gang members who become liabilities. I've never watched a Cagney film (not counting that crap he did in drag with some dude named Lacey), and I recognized every mannerism copied by comedians and cartoons. What they could not copy is his ability to fill the screen and capture the eye. A master at work.

Cody's last line, "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!", has been referenced in songs, movies, TV shows, and cartoons. Kevin Garnett shouted it during his post game interview after winning the NBA championship. This is a fascinating, complex story, well written, acted, and produced. It will appeal to people who think it won't. AMRU 4.

"You know something, Verna, if I turn my back long enough for Big Ed to put a hole in it, there'd be a hole in it."