Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Taxi!

Released Jan 23, 1932 1h 10m Crime Drama List
Tomatometer 4 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
An independent cabby (James Cagney) courts another cabby's daughter (Loretta Young) during a strong-arm taxi war.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Taxi!

Critics Reviews

View All (4) Critics Reviews
Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Over-violent and grim. Dec 27, 2018 Full Review Sean Axmaker Parallax View How can you refuse a film that embraces non-violent arbitration and still gives a pass to Cagney taking revenge? Mar 11, 2012 Full Review John Beifuss Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) Is James Cagney the greatest movie star in history? Watching 'Taxi!,' it's hard to vote no. As active as a terrier, as combustible as dynamite, he was made for motion pictures; he's so kinetic he threatens to ignite, like Johnny Blaze in 'Ghost Rider.' Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 9, 2012 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Just what a Depression audience wanted to see. Rated: C+ Apr 28, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (9) audience reviews
Audience Member Made just one year after 'The Public Enemy', James Cagney had truly made it in Hollywood when this film was made, and here he's engaging as always. However, while it's wonderful to see him dance a couple times (and to see George Raft dance as well), it's less than wonderful to see his character's pugnaciousness extending to threatening to hit his girlfriend (Loretta Young) several times. If you're sensitive to that, you may want to skip this one. Even at age 19, Young was practically an industry veteran given her filmography, and she turns in a good performance, both standing up to Cagney (at least to some extent) and falling for him. She also confessed to falling for him in real life, and maybe some of that chemistry shows. It's a tight script and story-telling from director Roy Del Ruth, but it is a little silly how much Young's character helps Cagney's enemy (David Landau). I loved the stock city shots in New York that are used in transitions, and the film zips along in its 69 minutes. The scene in the nightclub, with music by the Cotton Club Orchestra and some sexy dancing, is also a nice little bit of pre-code fun, as is Young briefly in her lingerie in a typical pre-code dressing scene. The main reason to watch the film, though, is to see Cagney's range. He's playful, romantic, speaks Yiddish, dances, and of course gets tough, busting off lines like "Come out and take it, you dirty yellow-bellied rat, or I'll give it to you through the door!" Despite its flaws, it's entertaining, and worth seeing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review darin c Another Cagney Masterpiece that should've been named something different since taxis weren't really at all the plot of this movie. A large middle section is devoted to Cagney trying to win over the lead dame, but the beginning sets up the story and a great ending ensues. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Another Cagney Masterpiece that should've been named something different since taxis weren't really at all the plot of this movie. A large middle section is devoted to Cagney trying to win over the lead dame, but the beginning sets up the story and a great ending ensues. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member The early 1930's in New York City is the scene for this movie where men fight one another for advantage in the taxi business. The women in their lives get embroiled in the crime wave that breaks out... A Fare to Remember--Tough Taxi Driver Threatens All With a Punch in the Face, Even His Girl - And She Don't Mind... Early Cagney and He's Gassed Up!! Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Entertaining James Cagney picture has him as a hot headed NYC cabbie who's cab company has gone to war with their rival taxi company. This movie is the source of Cagney's most famous misquoted line, "You dirty rat!" where win this film he actually says, "Come out and take it, you dirty, yellow-bellied rat, or I'll give it to you through the door!" Loretta Young, plays his girl, who at one point participate in a dance competition and their chief rival is actually a before-he-was-famous George Raft, who get's tough with Cagney. I've also never really appreciated Loretta Young much, but she's quite good in this picture. She was only 19 when this film came out, but she'd already appeared in nearly 40 films. She's someone I think I'll start checking her work out more, like I've been doing with Hedy Lamarr. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member cagney+young=good chem Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Taxi!

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis An independent cabby (James Cagney) courts another cabby's daughter (Loretta Young) during a strong-arm taxi war.
Director
Roy Del Ruth
Producer
Robert Lord
Screenwriter
Kubec Glasmon, John Bright
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 23, 1932, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2012
Runtime
1h 10m
Most Popular at Home Now