James Cagney returned to the gangster film reluctantly with White Heat - he still had debts to pay afterwards so he tried this one as well, which isn't that well remembered though I think its reputation has improved in recent years.
This is partly due to the fact its probably the best screen performance from Barbara Payton who has become a cult figure due to her colourful private life and tragic end. She's not amazing but she does have a quality - mostly to me because she's Barbara Payton, but she does seem to be trying.
She is a gansgter's moll but the part has some meat on its bones - she helps break Cagney and brother Neville Brand out of prison; Cagney shoots Brand but says the cops did it and seduces Payton.
Cagney is a stud in this one - he turns Payton into his whimpering woman in a few scenes and also is lusted after by Helena Carter. Carter again is a girl but again as something to act - the daughter of a local powerful businessman who is spoilt and wilful... she played variations on that in other movies. I do like that the film doesn't seem to say she genuinely love him - it's more the forbidden fruit. And he wants to marry her basically to have sex with her - he doesn't mind walking away afterwards and is only interested going back when cash is offered.
But Cagney is far too old for this role - he's also tubby. I vaguely bought Payton going for him - she obviously had a bad upbringing and her brother just died. But not Carter. The film really needed someone younger and sexier like Steve Cochran or even Neville Brand whose role as Payton's brother is far too small. I also wanted to see more of that creepy philosophical doctor who used to be a crook.
There is excellent work from Luther Adler as a crooked lawyer and Ward Bond as a corrupt cop. It's a pretty well directed film and director Gordon Douglas does a decent job. The dialogue isn't quite as tough and memorable as you'd like.
2 comments:
Barbara Payton, IMO, is excellent in the film. I believe she had far more acting talent and potential than she, and most other people, realized.
I do think you're right in that she had more potential than she realised - in later films she appears to not be trying. It was as though she had natural ability but wasn't really willing to do the work (I could be wrong about that, it's just the impression I get from her later films).
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