I like James Cagney and I like Bette Davis, but could the two of them do a good movie together?
The short answer is yes.
"Jimmy the Gent" isn't either of their best work, but it was satisfactory. James Cagney played James 'Jimmy' Corrigan. The title on his office door was genealogist, but what he did wasn't as respectable as the title. He tracked down missing heirs to fortunes for a hefty commission of course. He used any and every tactic at his disposal. His main man was Louie (Allen Jenkins). Louie wasn't the most competent, but he was loyal and he tolerated Jimmy's abuse. Jimmy wouldn't be able to find anyone else like Louie.
Joan Martin (Bette Davis) worked as a secretary for a genealogist named Charles Wallingham (Alan Dinehart). Charles was classy, sophisticated, and seemingly more "ethical," which is why Joan left Jimmy to work for Charles.
The movie was essentially both genealogists trying to get more business than the other with Joan in the middle as the moral compass. It was typical Cagney: rough, abusive, and fast-talking. Davis, for her part, was a bit inconsequential. She could've been Joan Blondell, Ruth Chatterton, or Constance Cummings.
Free on Odnoklassniki.
The short answer is yes.
"Jimmy the Gent" isn't either of their best work, but it was satisfactory. James Cagney played James 'Jimmy' Corrigan. The title on his office door was genealogist, but what he did wasn't as respectable as the title. He tracked down missing heirs to fortunes for a hefty commission of course. He used any and every tactic at his disposal. His main man was Louie (Allen Jenkins). Louie wasn't the most competent, but he was loyal and he tolerated Jimmy's abuse. Jimmy wouldn't be able to find anyone else like Louie.
Joan Martin (Bette Davis) worked as a secretary for a genealogist named Charles Wallingham (Alan Dinehart). Charles was classy, sophisticated, and seemingly more "ethical," which is why Joan left Jimmy to work for Charles.
The movie was essentially both genealogists trying to get more business than the other with Joan in the middle as the moral compass. It was typical Cagney: rough, abusive, and fast-talking. Davis, for her part, was a bit inconsequential. She could've been Joan Blondell, Ruth Chatterton, or Constance Cummings.
Free on Odnoklassniki.