Nothing could be more typical of early 30s Warner Brothers than this. Daryl Zanuck was pumping out about fifty motion pictures a year - not for the learned, not for the artists, not for the sophisticated dinner party sets but for the ordinary people whom The Depression had chewed up and unceremoniously spat out. These films were about people and for people whom society, authority and big business had treated like dirt. Zanuck's Warner Brothers was the people's studio and James Cagney was the people's actor. TAXI is not as powerful as the more 'campaigning' WB films of that era but it still has Zanuck's familiar: "we're on you side, boys" feel about it which when watched today still feels warm and caring.
What's fascinating watching this today is realising what a different race of people we are compared with those who lived here ninety years ago. It's amazing how different our attitudes were: how violence was so much more widespread and normalised. One could not imagine a scriptwriter today having a gentle old man (Guy Kibbee ) gunning down someone simply because he destroys his taxi - let alone the general casual use of guns, knives and fists used in response to things which today might just elicit 'a hard stare' (in the case of Paddington anyway!) Equally fascinating is how our attitudes, the way we treat each other - especially the relationship between men and women has changed. This is one of Cagney's least likeable characters, he's a violent, uncouth yob who treats Loretta Young absolutely horribly and yet he's the hero of the film. Loretta Young's feisty, self-assured character, Sue, is very much a modern woman and yet she simply accepts that that's just the way he is, this is how things are and so loves him just the same - different times!
As stupid as it is, I find myself comparing this with Scorsese's masterpiece TAXI DRIVER. Of course that's an idiotic thing to do but there are some similarities (besides the obvious). They're both broken people struggling to survive and struggling to have a relationship. However whereas Robert De Niro is a lonely repressed psychopath about to explode, James Cagney's psychopath's pressure is constantly leaking out through his uncontrollable temper. This temper is uncontrollable and although all the misfortunes which befall him are all because of it, he shows no remorse, no acknowledgment that all this is his fault, no realisation that he needs to change his ways.
However many times I see Loretta Young in these early 30s movies I am always shocked, amazing and astounded at how unbelievably pretty she is. Not in a sexual or saucy way, she's almost like a painting come to life. That aside, she seriously is an exceptional actress and portrays a very authentic believable young woman we can instantly empathise with and she is only 18! Can she change Cagney's character, if anyone can reform him, surely someone as optimistic, positive and sensible as she can? No, it's a hopeless task. The violence, the uncontrollable temper is as much a part of him as his own blood and bone. Like De Niro, where Cagney has come from, that cruel and brutal world has made him who he is. Growing up in the squalid slums of New York at the beginning of the century was especially tough for the Irish kids.
Overall this is entertaining and reasonably exciting upbeat movie. It is snappily directed and as it's a cost conscious WB production where every millimetre of film has to be used efficiently, there no time wasted on padding so it zips along. It's well acted by everyone, even the bit players - Leila Bennett as the annoying friend who never shuts up is particularly good and offers a good contrast with Loretta Young's quiet and considered persona. Worth an hour of your time.
What's fascinating watching this today is realising what a different race of people we are compared with those who lived here ninety years ago. It's amazing how different our attitudes were: how violence was so much more widespread and normalised. One could not imagine a scriptwriter today having a gentle old man (Guy Kibbee ) gunning down someone simply because he destroys his taxi - let alone the general casual use of guns, knives and fists used in response to things which today might just elicit 'a hard stare' (in the case of Paddington anyway!) Equally fascinating is how our attitudes, the way we treat each other - especially the relationship between men and women has changed. This is one of Cagney's least likeable characters, he's a violent, uncouth yob who treats Loretta Young absolutely horribly and yet he's the hero of the film. Loretta Young's feisty, self-assured character, Sue, is very much a modern woman and yet she simply accepts that that's just the way he is, this is how things are and so loves him just the same - different times!
As stupid as it is, I find myself comparing this with Scorsese's masterpiece TAXI DRIVER. Of course that's an idiotic thing to do but there are some similarities (besides the obvious). They're both broken people struggling to survive and struggling to have a relationship. However whereas Robert De Niro is a lonely repressed psychopath about to explode, James Cagney's psychopath's pressure is constantly leaking out through his uncontrollable temper. This temper is uncontrollable and although all the misfortunes which befall him are all because of it, he shows no remorse, no acknowledgment that all this is his fault, no realisation that he needs to change his ways.
However many times I see Loretta Young in these early 30s movies I am always shocked, amazing and astounded at how unbelievably pretty she is. Not in a sexual or saucy way, she's almost like a painting come to life. That aside, she seriously is an exceptional actress and portrays a very authentic believable young woman we can instantly empathise with and she is only 18! Can she change Cagney's character, if anyone can reform him, surely someone as optimistic, positive and sensible as she can? No, it's a hopeless task. The violence, the uncontrollable temper is as much a part of him as his own blood and bone. Like De Niro, where Cagney has come from, that cruel and brutal world has made him who he is. Growing up in the squalid slums of New York at the beginning of the century was especially tough for the Irish kids.
Overall this is entertaining and reasonably exciting upbeat movie. It is snappily directed and as it's a cost conscious WB production where every millimetre of film has to be used efficiently, there no time wasted on padding so it zips along. It's well acted by everyone, even the bit players - Leila Bennett as the annoying friend who never shuts up is particularly good and offers a good contrast with Loretta Young's quiet and considered persona. Worth an hour of your time.