White Heat

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Kyle M A film noir classic that narratively ripples over its decent heft empathetically handled whilst centrally bolstered by James Cagney’s incredible manic performance. (B+) Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review revolver.0 8 a truly golden standard for this kind of movies Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/15/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 54 minutes!!!!!!!!!!! The best cast and crew in black and white-filmed scenes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/10/25 Full Review Ben D A man (James Cagney) loves his mother (Margaret Wycherly). Everyone else can go to Hell. This is White Heat, a combination of a gangster flick, a heist movie, a prison breakout thriller, and a backstabbing romance. James Cagney’s acting prowess is on full display in this movie where he battles prison guards, old friends, cops, and debilitating migraines. His close-up when he discovers the undercover cop (Edmond O’Brian) is mesmerizing. It’s the kind of shot that’s become so rare it’ll make you sit up in your seat. The final line, “Made it, Ma! Top of the World!” is an Old Hollywood classic and even better in context. Sure, some moments don’t age well — when Jarrett (Cagney) is punching his way through prison guards, it almost feels like a spoof — but the movie is 75 years old. It’s an absolute must-watch for the cinephile and gangster movie aficionado. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/25 Full Review Audience Member Saw this on Movie Night at college in early 70's. It was already an "old movie" that could be rented on actual film reels for cheap dough. We saw 'em all - Casablanca, Maltese Falcon, etc. We got into the big lecture hall for either 50c or free - it's been a long time. There was one projector so there was an automatic intermission between reels! In any event, it was a hoot even back then - the overacting, the "technology" the authorities used to bust the bad guys, the pseudo psychology, etc. I'd say today it's just a relic of what passed for mass entertainment in that era. There was a shift in attitudes from the earlier gangster shoot-em-up's of the 1930's; here crime was depicted as the product of psychosis which an enlightened society could treat and thus permanently rid itself of antisocial behavior. I give it One and a Half Stars for entertainment in a so-bad-it's-good way. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/30/24 Full Review Isa B James Cagney is truly a one of a kind actor. There is no one in the history of cinema quite like him. I am obviously very impressed with his performance in White Heat. It's a classic film that I highly recommend. 94/100 Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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