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CrimeDramaThriller

White Heat

- Pick up the pieces folks, Jimmy's in action again!

A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and then leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist. After the heist, events take a crazy turn.

Release Date : 1949-09-02

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

James Cagney

Character Name : Arthur 'Cody' Jarrett

Original Name : James Cagney

Gender : Male

Virginia Mayo

Character Name : Verna Jarrett

Original Name : Virginia Mayo

Gender : Female

Edmond O'Brien

Character Name : Vic Pardo

Original Name : Edmond O'Brien

Gender : Male

Margaret Wycherly

Character Name : Ma Jarrett

Original Name : Margaret Wycherly

Gender : Female

Steve Cochran

Character Name : 'Big Ed' Somers

Original Name : Steve Cochran

Gender : Male

John Archer

Character Name : Philip Evans

Original Name : John Archer

Gender : Male

Wally Cassell

Character Name : 'Cotton' Valletti

Original Name : Wally Cassell

Gender : Male

Fred Clark

Character Name : Daniel Winston

Original Name : Fred Clark

Gender : Male

Paul Guilfoyle

Character Name : Roy Parker (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Guilfoyle

Gender : Male

Ford Rainey

Character Name : Zuckie

Original Name : Ford Rainey

Gender : Male

Robert Foulk

Character Name : Payroll Guard at Chemical Plant

Original Name : Robert Foulk

Gender : Male

Ian MacDonald

Character Name : Creel

Original Name : Ian MacDonald

Gender : Male

Robert Osterloh

Character Name : Ryley

Original Name : Robert Osterloh

Gender : Male

Joel Allen

Character Name : Operative (uncredited)

Original Name : Joel Allen

Gender : Male

Claudia Barrett

Character Name : Cashier (uncredited)

Original Name : Claudia Barrett

Gender : Female

Ray Bennett

Character Name : Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Bennett

Gender : Male

Marshall Bradford

Character Name : Chief of Police (uncredited)

Original Name : Marshall Bradford

Gender : Male

Chet Brandenburg

Character Name : Convict (uncredited)

Original Name : Chet Brandenburg

Gender : Male

John Butler

Character Name : Motorist at Gas Station (uncredited)

Original Name : John Butler

Gender : Male

Robert Carson

Character Name : Agent at Directional Map (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Carson

Gender : Male

Bill Cartledge

Character Name : Car-Hop at Drive-In Theatre (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Cartledge

Gender : Male

Leo Cleary

Character Name : Railroad Fireman (uncredited)

Original Name : Leo Cleary

Gender : Male

Fred Coby

Character Name : Happy Taylor (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Coby

Gender : Male

Tom Coleman

Character Name : Court Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Coleman

Gender : Male

G. Pat Collins

Character Name : The Reader (uncredited)

Original Name : G. Pat Collins

Gender : Male

Herschel Daugherty

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Herschel Daugherty

Gender : Male

Charles Ferguson

Character Name : Plant Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Ferguson

Gender : Male

Art Foster

Character Name : Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Art Foster

Gender : Male

Eddie Foster

Character Name : Lefeld (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Foster

Gender : Male

Buddy Gorman

Character Name : Vendor at Drive-in (uncredited)

Original Name : Buddy Gorman

Gender : Male

Sherry Hall

Character Name : Court Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Sherry Hall

Gender : Male

Carl Harbaugh

Character Name : Foreman (uncredited)

Original Name : Carl Harbaugh

Gender : Male

Clarence Hennecke

Character Name : Small Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Clarence Hennecke

Gender : Male

Perry Ivins

Character Name : Dr. Simpson (uncredited)

Original Name : Perry Ivins

Gender : Male

Colin Kenny

Character Name : Prison Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Colin Kenny

Gender : Male

Mickey Knox

Character Name : Het Kohler (uncredited)

Original Name : Mickey Knox

Gender : Male

Harry Lauter

Character Name : Man with Microphone in Car (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Lauter

Gender : Male

Nolan Leary

Character Name : Russ (uncredited)

Original Name : Nolan Leary

Gender : Male

Murray Leonard

Character Name : Engineer (uncredited)

Original Name : Murray Leonard

Gender : Male

Larry McGrath

Character Name : Clocker (uncredited)

Original Name : Larry McGrath

Gender : Male

John McGuire

Character Name : Psychiatrist #2 (uncredited)

Original Name : John McGuire

Gender : Male

Sid Melton

Character Name : Russell Hughes (uncredited)

Original Name : Sid Melton

Gender : Male

Art Miles

Character Name : Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Art Miles

Gender : Male

Ray Montgomery

Character Name : Ernie (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Montgomery

Gender : Male

Terry O'Sullivan

Character Name : Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Original Name : Terry O'Sullivan

Gender : Male

Milton Parsons

Character Name : Willie Rolf (uncredited)

Original Name : Milton Parsons

Gender : Male

Jack Perrin

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Perrin

Gender : Male

Jack Perry

Character Name : Convict (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Perry

Gender : Male

Lee Phelps

Character Name : Prison Tower Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Lee Phelps

Gender : Male

Eddie Phillips

Character Name : T-Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Phillips

Gender : Male

John Pickard

Character Name : T-Man Driving Car C (uncredited)

Original Name : John Pickard

Gender : Male

Joey Ray

Character Name : T-Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Joey Ray

Gender : Male

Grandon Rhodes

Character Name : Dr. Harris - Psychiatrist #1 (uncredited)

Original Name : Grandon Rhodes

Gender : Male

Jeffrey Sayre

Character Name : Plant Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Jeffrey Sayre

Gender : Male

George Spaulding

Character Name : Judge (uncredited)

Original Name : George Spaulding

Gender : Male

Harry Strang

Character Name : Prison Infirmary Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Strang

Gender : Male

Jim Thorpe

Character Name : Big Convict (uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Thorpe

Gender : Male

Jim Toney

Character Name : Brakeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Toney

Gender : Male

Sid Troy

Character Name : Convict (uncredited)

Original Name : Sid Troy

Gender : Male

Aline Towne

Character Name : Margaret Baxter - Agent (uncredited)

Original Name : Aline Towne

Gender : Female

Rudy Germane

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Rudy Germane

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

I told you to keep away from that radio. If that battery is dead it'll have company. White Heat is directed by Raoul Walsh and adapted by Ivan Goff & Ben Roberts from a story suggested by Virginia Kellogg. It stars James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Steve Cochran & Margaret Wycherly. Music is by Max Steiner and photography by Sidney Hickox. Cody Jarrett (Cagney) is the sadistic leader of a violent and ruthless gang of thieves. Unnervingly devoted to his mother (Wycherly) and afflicted by terrible headaches since childhood, Cody is one bad day away from being a full blown psychotic. That day is coming soon, and everyone in his way is sure to pay. Around the time of White Heat being released, two things were evident as regards its star and its themes. One is that it had been a long time since a gangster, and a truly vicious one at that, had thrilled or frightened a cinema audience. The Production Code and a change in emotional value due to World War II had seen the genuine career gangster all but disappear. Second thing of note is that Cagney was stung by the disappointing performance of Cagney Productions. So after having left Warner Brothers in 1942, the diminutive star re-signed for the studio and returned to the genre he had almost made his own in the 30s. He of course had some say in proceedings, such as urging the makers to ensure a crime does not pay motif, but all told he needed a hit and the fit with Raoul Walsh and the psychotic Jarrett was perfect. It may not be his best acting performance, but it's certainly his most potent and arguably it's the cream of the gangster genre crop. The inspiration for the film is mostly agreed to be the real life criminals: Ma Barker, Arthur "Doc" Barker and Francis Crowley. A point of worth being that they were all 30s criminals since White Heat very much looks and feels like a 30s movie. Cagney for sure is older (he was 50 at the time) and more rotund, but he and the film have the presence and vibrancy respectively to keep it suitably in period and in the process becoming the last of its kind. White Heat is that rare old beast that manages to have a conventional action story at its core, yet still be unique in structure and portrayal of the lead character. Neatly crafted by Walsh around four Cody Jarrett "moments" of importance, the Oedipal tones playing out between Cody and his Ma make for an uneasy experience, but even then Walsh and the team pull a rabbit out the hat by still garnering sympathy for the crazed protagonist. It sounds nutty, but it really is one of the big reasons why White Heat is the great film that it is. Another reason of course is "those" special scenes, two of which are folklore cinematic legends now. Note legend number 1 as Cody, incarcerated, receives bad news, the reaction is at once terrifying and pitiful (note the extras reaction here since they didn't know what was coming). Legend number 2 comes with "that" ending, forever quotable and as octane ignited finale's go it takes some beating. As brilliant and memorable as Cagney is, it's not, however, a one man show. He's superbly directed by Walsh, with the great director maintaining a pace and rhythm to match Cody Jarrett's state of mind. And with Steiner (Angels With Dirty Faces/Casablanca/Key Largo) scoring with eerie strands and strains, and Hickox (The Big Sleep/To Have and Have Not) adding noir flourishes for realism and atmosphere, it's technically a very smart picture. The supporting cast in the face of Cagney's barnstorming come up with sterling work. Wycherly is glorious as the tough and tetchy Ma Jarrett and O'Brien is needed to be spot on in the film's second most important role; a role that calls for him to not only be the first man Cody has ever trusted, but also as some sort of weird surrogate mother! Mayo isn't called on to do much, but she's gorgeous and sexy and fatalistic in sheen. While Cochran holds his end up well as the right hand man getting ideas above his station. White Heat is as tough as they come, a gritty pulsating psycho drama that has many visual delights and scenes that are still as powerful and as shocking some 60 odd years since it first hit the silver screen. What is often forgotten, when yet another clip of the brilliant ending is shown on TV, is that it's also a weird and snarky piece of film. All told, it is blisteringly hot. 10/10