These Wilder Years

These Wilder Years marks the only teaming of James Cagney and Barbara Stanwyck. It would have been nice if they had been teamed for a better film. Can't you just see Stanwyck in Virginia Mayo's part in White Heat?

Still These Wilder Years is not a bad film, high class soap opera the kind of stuff that became popular on television in the Eighties.

James Cagney is a millionaire industrialist looking for the son whose paternity he denied when he was sowing his wild oats. Barbara Stanwyck runs the home for unwed mothers where the girl who Cagney was involved with came and gave up her kid for adoption.

Cagney has the resources to get his way, but Stanwyck with the confidentiality of adoption records has the law on her side. Or has she?

Walter Pigeon plays Cagney's attorney and Don Dubbins, a young actor whose career Cagney was pushing plays the son and both do well. Look for bit parts from Tom {BillyJack} Laughlin, Michael Landon, and Dean Jones all at the start of their careers.

Cagney and Stanwyck are both players with an edge to their parts. It's like they've been taken down into second gear for this film. Still it's a pleasant enough movie. Look for young Betty Lou Keim who is a current unwed mother in Stanwyck's charge. Her scenes with Cagney are quite poignant.

I first saw this film about 20 years ago on Turner Classic Movies and I was far from impressed--so much so that I long resisted seeing it again. However, on a lark, I decided to see it again--especially because I barely remembered the film--just that I didn't particularly like it. In hindsight, I am thrilled that I saw it again since it was far better than I'd remembered plus there were some truly wonderful moments.

The film begins with a very rich and successful James Cagney announcing to his board of directors that he was taking an extended leave of absence and wouldn't tell them why. It turns out that 20 years earlier, Cagney had fathered a child out of wedlock and he was trying to reconnect with this lost child. Naturally the adoption agency was not about to just give him this information and eventually Cagney unleashes lawyers and exerts his influences to try to force the issue.

At the same time, there is a plot involving a nice young girl who Cagney meets who is also pregnant and without resources, so it looks like she'll need to give up her baby. Considering the very obvious parallel, it's not at all surprising where this all leads, but it is still very emotionally satisfying to watch. In addition, there is a great scene at a bowling alley that is full of depth and emotion you often don't find in a Cagney film.

A highly unusual and soap opera-like film that still manages to satisfy despite a bit of predictability. It was well worth a look--I'm glad I did again.

This is by far from being a masterpiece; yet I don't consider it a yawn-fest as other reviewers describe. Yes, it's a melodrama. Yes, it certainly reeks of Hollywood's lobotomized treatment of illegitimate pregnancy and the adoption experience. But it is at least thoughtful and empathetic in its approach.

I would technically rate this film 5 out of 10; but because I've seen it several times and will certainly watch it again when on rotation on TCM, I'm bumping it up 2 stars to a 7. When what is in actuality an average movie seems to pop up on some network at regular intervals, it signals there's enough substance and likeability factor intrinsic to warrant repeated airings.

It's fun watching Stanwyck and Cagney together, and it's especially pleasant to see Cagney in a role wherein he doesn't chew up the scenery. I wouldn't rush to a theater to see it, but I respect it enough to watch it again.

Mainly for diehard Cagney fans, and for those who will watch anything in which Stanwyck is part of the cast.

With James Cagney's gangster phase at a close, ending beautifully with 1955's Love Me or Leave Me, he turned towards a different kind of role: a regular fellow. In These Wilder Years, he plays a successful businessman who decides he has everything he could ever want except the unfinished business of his past. Without a word of explanation to anyone but his faithful lawyer, Walter Pidgeon, James leaves work and travels to a small town and visits an orphanage. Turns out, he's looking for his son, who was adopted twenty years ago.

In case this sounds a little corny, give it a chance anyway. This one is completely worth watching. The plot moves steadily along, and with old pros like James Cagney and Barbara Stanwyck pitted against each other, they each bring a lot of emotion to the table. Barbara is stronger than she looks, and Jimmy holds more secrets than he first lets on. While trying to find his son, Jimmy also bonds with a teenager, Betty Lou Keim, who's pregnant and preparing for the difficult emotional decision of giving her baby to Barbara's orphanage.

There's so much to appreciate about this movie, and if you're a fan of the leads, this is a great transition movie to see them in the second half of their careers. Depending on how sentimental you're feeling, you might want to bring along a Kleenex.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Cagney in this movie. I must admit, after viewing a lot of his films I've grown accustomed to his famous tough-guy image. But, after seeing "These Wilder Years" I was a little surprised to see a softer, gentler Cagney. It's a pleasant contrast in light of his previous roles. Cagney is a splendid and versatile actor and I've always relished seeing him play comedic and dramatic parts as well as gangster/hoodlum roles. He's simply irresistable to watch on screen and I'm always interested to see how he's going to react. You never know when he's going to "sprinkle the goodies" in a scene. He is always good to his audience. In "These Wilder Years", Cagney plays a successful businessman in search of a son that was put up for adoption twenty years ago. Even though Cagney's character pretty much has everything he wants, there's just something missing and he has to fulfull this part of his life. I don't want to give away what happens in the movie but the interactions between Barbara Stanwyck and Betty Lou Keim are compelling and at times, very touching.

Although, I wouldn't say this is Oscar material and there are plenty of good movies out there, this is one definitely worth seeing -- Cagney fan or not :)