MovieChat Forums > The Time of Your Life (1948) Discussion > This May Be The Real James Cagney

This May Be The Real James Cagney

posted 13 years ago by joeparkson
4 replies | jump to latest

If you enjoyed this film, you will also enjoy another Cagney production, "Johnny Come Lately", where former newspaperman turned hobo Cagney comes to the aid of an elderly publisher.

Both movies present us with a philosphical, whimsical Cagney, in roles that could have been done by Jimmy Stewart in his Elwood P. Dowd personna. The typical hyperkinetic tough guy is not here.

Pat O'Brien, one of Cagney's close friends, unicknamed Cagney 'the faraway fella'. I guess in real life, Cagney was a quieter, introspective person.

There's a scene in this movie where Cagney says to what may or may not be a former sweetheart, " I don't dance; I don't even like to walk".

I wonder if this was in the original play or was inserted as an inside joke. Cagney was not only a fine dancer, he had a very distinctive, cocky way of walking.

As much as I enjoyed these quieter Cagney movies, I must admit to being glad that Warner's forced Cagney to play tough guys and gangsters with an occaisional song and dance role thrown in. Had Cagney been given the freedom to choose his own roles, he wouldn't have become the screen icon he is. Both this movie and "Johnny Come Lately" were flops.

Absurdity: A Statement or belief inconsistent with my opinion.

[–] novastar_6 13 years ago

I read the play of Time of Your Life last year, and it's been a while but I do believe the line 'I don't want to dance, I don't even like to walk' was in fact in there. Most of the stuff we saw in this movie was, except at the end, when he shot that man, he really died, and then Nick was upset because the cops didn't care about it.

[–] joeparkson 13 years ago

There was another scene I found a little amusing. It's where Joe is examining a revolver that he'd just acquired and asks Kit Carson, "can you show me how to work this thing?"

I doubt there was another actor who made more movies with a gun in his hand than Cagney.

I'm glad that Cagney made this movie, but I'm also glad it was a flop. Had it made any money, Cagney might not have done "White Heat" the following year.

Absurdity: A Statement or belief inconsistent with my opinion.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] novastar_6 13 years ago

No, I mean in the original play there wasn't any of this 'he just got knocked out' stuff, he was actually shot and killed in the play, but I guess they had to tone it down in the movies to please the Hays Office.