Les hors la loi

This is definitely Jimmy Cagney's film all the way. He is superb in it and his acting actually makes the rest of the cast better in support. Cagney was such a great actor he would always help elevate others performances in his films and he does so very much in this one. This film is well done for it's time though it looks a little flawed with age now.

The story is actually based upon a real FBI case in the early 30's. It stretches the truth after a while in order to fit the task. The gun fight sequence towards the end is amazingly violent yet most of the what seems to be thousands of shots fired seem to miss everything.

This is one of many films that established Warner Brothers as :Gangster Films Inc" during the 30's & 40's. It is a strong entry which was well produced for a 1935 (early) film. It treats it's subject pretty well. If you like Cagney, this is a film you must see to understand how far he had already developed his acting skills in 1935.

Can't find a flaw or an objection to "G-Men", a depression-era gangster picture which hits all the right notes. The screenplay, acting, direction and photography are all outstanding. The picture centers around James Cagney, a lawyer-turned G-man who rises quickly through the ranks to become a hero, much to the grudging admiration of Robert Armstrong, Chief of the Department, as he captures or exterminates several dangerous gangsters.

It sounds like a lot of similar 'shoot-em-ups', but Director Keighley does it with style here, and with the help of a first-rate cast. Besides Cagney and Armstrong are such stalwart supporters as Lloyd Nolan, Ann Dvorak and Barton McLane. He keeps the action moving so that there is very little down time or prolonged stretches of dull dialogue - come to think of it, there are no breaks in the action as it is nearly continuous and helps to make "G-Men" one of the best of its genre regardless of the era.

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.

"G" Men (1935)

*** (out of 4)

Raised by a gangster as a child, James Cagney grows up to be a lawyer but after a friend's murdered by the mob he decides to join the FBI. This film is a tad bit overrated in my opinion because we've seen this type of thing from Warner quite a few times but there are a few nice elements that make it worth watching at least once. Cagney turns in another wonderful performance but to be fair, he rarely turns in anything but. The supporting cast are pretty good but there's no doubt this is Cagney's picture all the way. There are several wonderful shoot outs, which are a lot of fun and the ending is also very nice.

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.