'G' Men

Only four years after his iconic portrayal of Tom Powers in "The Public Enemy," James Cagney switched alliances and played Brick Davis, a G Man or Federal Agent. Educated through the generosity of a racketeer, who eventually goes straight, Cagney is an unsuccessful lawyer. However, an old friend, who is a Federal agent, suggests that Cagney apply for a job with the FBI. When the friend is gunned down in the line of duty, Cagney decides to use his inside knowledge of the mob and pursue a career as a G-Man.

Although not as colorful as his gangster performances such as Rocky Sullivan or Cody Jarrett, Cagney nevertheless is always fun to watch, and he is as tough on the side of the law as he is on the wrong side. However, the fine cast of Warner Brothers stock character actors also shines, especially Barton MacLane, who makes Cagney's chief nemesis, Collins, particularly despicable. Lloyd Nolan, in his first film role, and Robert Armstrong as Cagney's fellow G-Men pale in comparison to the more interesting gang of thugs. Like Nolan and Armstrong, Margaret Lindsay is one of the good guys and provides somewhat bland love interest for Cagney. Meanwhile, Ann Dvorak as Lindsay's rival from the past hangs out with the gangsters and has some good moments, particularly a clumsy musical number near the film's opening.

Although William Keighley's direction is not particularly imaginative, heated gun battles, car chases, fistfights, and flashes of screaming newspaper headlines will keep viewers engrossed. While not among the greatest, "G Men" is a fine example of 1930's gangster films that is executed in a solid and entertaining, if unexceptional, style.

"G-Men" is a 1935 film that was reissued in 1949. At that time, the FBI was 25 years old, and a scene was added where David Brian, as an FBI head honcho, tells his rookies that they are about to see an early film about the FBI. He then starts the movie.

"G-Men" is directed by William Keighley and stars James Cagney as Brick Davis, an attorney whose college friend Eddie (Regis Toomey) is murdered by a mobster (Barton MacLane) while working for the Department of Justice. Brick quits lawyering and joins the FBI. When the fact that he was close friends with a mobster (who put him through law school) turns up, Brick is able to supply a lot of information to the bureau.

The action in this film is non-stop, with car chases, kidnappings, lots of shooting, and scenes at a lodge, reminiscent of a well-known real-life happening in Wisconsin.

Cagney is excellent as usual, and Barton MacLane gives a strong performance as the enemy. Lloyd Nolan, as a fellow recruit, makes his film debut. The supporting actors are all good.

Warner Brothers again proves why they were King of the Crime Flicks with this film. If you like Cagney and action, don't miss this one.

"G-Men" is one of the best of Warner Brothers gangster films. It casts James Cagney, known at that time for his gangster roles, on the right side of the law for a change.

Lawyer "Brick" Davis (Cagney) is a well educated lawyer with no clients. He is visited one day by an old friend Eddie Buchanan (Regis Toomey) who encourages Brick to join the Department of Justice Bureau of Investigation (soon to be named the Federal Bureau of Investigation).

When Eddie is murdered by gangster Collins (Barton MacLane), Brick decides to apply to the Department of Justice. It should be noted that in the FBI's early days they could only engage lawyers and accountants and were not permitted to carry firearms. Brick is assigned to tough laconic Jeff McCord (Robert Armstrong) who is of the opinion that Brick will never make an effective agent.

McCord and Bureau Director Bruce Gregory (Addison Richards) both believe that to be effective, the bureau needs to have national jurisdiction, be allowed to carry weapons and hire law enforcers and not lawyers.

As it turns out Brick was rescued from the street by gangster Mac McKay (William Harrigan) who took him in and provided him with his education. Brick soon demonstrates his capabilities and quickly gains the confidence of his superiors. Along the way he meets McCord's sister Kay (Margaret Lindsay) and the two fall in love. Bad girl Jean Morgan (Ann Dvorak) also has this thing for Brick.

When Collins' gang disappears, Jean is brought in for questioning and we learn that she has married Collins after Mac closed his night club. She gives Brick the lead he needs and the Bureau takes action. Collins escapes the Bureau's attack on his gang and.....................

Director William Keighley gives us one of the classic gangster movies. It changes the focus on the hero from a gangster to a law enforcement officer, but at the same time offers one of the best shoot outs of the genre.

Cagney loses nothing in his switch from the wrong to the right side of the law. He remains his usual cocky fast talking self. Armstrong in a role that usually was played by Pat O'Brien, is effective as McCord. Of the female leads, Dvorak has the best role. Lindsay is merely around as Cagney's good girl love interest. MacLane, Warners resident gangster, turns in his usual good performance as the brutish Collins.

Others in the cast include Lloyd Nolan in an early role as Brick's fellow agent, and Edward Pawley, Noel Madison, Harold Huber and Raymond Hatton as assorted gangsters.

In 1949, the film was re-released to help mark the FBI's 25th anniversary. A prologue featuring David Brian showing the film to a group of new recruits was added.

A word about the DVD commentary by film historian Richard Jewell. For someone who should know better, he makes two glaring errors regarding the cast. He identifies David Brian as Brian David and Margaret Lindsay as Margaret Livingston. I wouldn't have been surprised to have heard him call Cagney, James Pygmy or MacLane, Barton Fink. A little more thorough research Mr. Jewell.

In the 1930s Warner Bros was the unrivaled home of the gangster picture. These films were so much fun, filled with action and drama with a heaping dose of social commentary on the side. Despite the criminals usually dying in the end of these movies, WB was accused by some of glorifying hoodlums. So, in answer to that, they made this little gem that was designed to glorify the "good guys" instead. How did they do that? They took their main tough guy star, James Cagney, and made him a fed (or G-Man). In this movie, Cagney plays a lawyer who joins the Department of Justice after his federal agent friend is killed.

This is a first-rate gangster picture, directed by William Keighley and written by Seton I. Miller. No matter which side of the law he's on, Cagney is his usual charismatic self, not too far removed from his other gangster roles. He's still the tough runt who would sooner break your jaw or plug you with his gat before he would place you under arrest, but he's got a badge this time and he does follow the rules...for the most part. Fantastic cast backing Cagney up. William Harrigan is a scene stealer as the soft-hearted gangster who helps Jimmy out and pays for it in the end. Perennial heavy Barton MacLane gets plenty of scenery to chew as the main villain. Robert Armstrong is the agent that rides Cagney hard but eventually decides he's a good egg. Margaret Lindsay is Armstrong's sister and one of two dames that fall for Jimmy in this picture. The other being the lovely Ann Dvorak, who shines as she almost always did. She is really one of the more underrated actresses of her time. Despite her appealing performance, though, her first scene is a bit cringeworthy as she's badly lip-syncing and awkwardly dancing around like a wounded chicken. She was a fine dramatic actress but not a great singer or dancer. Others rounding out the cast include Lloyd Nolan, Regis Toomey, Harold Huber, Jonathan Hale, and Edward Pawley as a vicious hood named Leggett.

It's a beautiful-looking picture, courtesy of cinematographer Sol Polito. The big shootout between the feds and the gangsters is one of the film's highlights. The scene where Cagney gets a jujitsu lesson is also a real treat. There's an amusing FBI 'crime does not pay' type of prologue that was tacked on for the 1949 re-release that is present on most prints today. Definitely a must-see for fans of Cagney and WB gangster movies. If you aren't one of those already, you should be.

Here's an old-time (about 75 years old!) gangster movie that is fast-moving as all James Cagney crime films tend to be. In here, Cagney is the good guy, a "government man" out to get crooks, one of whom turns out to be his old pal. All the characters in here are pretty interesting, particularly Cagney's boss played by Robert Armstrong.

Watching this film, one discovers an interesting fact: government agents weren't allowed to use guns in the early days. That didn't change until things got totally out of control with too many defenseless lawmen getting killed.

Margaret Lindsay also stars in this movie, and that's a good thing. The more I see of her, the more I like her. It would have been interesting to see what roles she'd play if she was a young actress in today's films.

Finally, the action scenes in this film reminded me of the old television series, "The Untouchables" with the machine guns blazing out of those big, boxy 1930 automobiles.