I like James Cagney films because of the characters he plays. He's usually tough or funny and never plays the pretty boy. This was certainly the weakest character I've ever seen him play, but Cagney wasn't the reason this movie was below average; it was Evelyn Knapp.
"Sinner's Holiday" took place at Coney Island. It was noisy and slightly debaucherous. Ma Delano (Lucille La Verne) ran a penny arcade and she ran her two children: Harry (James Cagney) and Jenny (Evelyn Knapp). They couldn't take a breath without Ma's knowledge. She kept tabs on the two of them at all times. Even still she didn't know that her baby boy had gotten mixed up with a bootlegger named Mitch McKane (Warren Hymer).
When Mitch had to go to trial for a murder he left Harry in charge of his operation. When Mitch was acquitted he came back looking for Harry. The word was that Harry had been stealing from Mitch. It was going to be curtains for Harry if the rumor was true.
I've watched dozens of movies from the 30's. Many of them I don't like, but there are some that are quite good. Even though they're black & white and the acting is different and the lingo is different, I can get into the movie as long as it's a good plot. I'm still getting used to "hooey" and "swell" as frequently used slangs.
James Cagney, Lucille La Verne, and Joan Blondell (playing Harry's girl, Myrtle) were perfectly fine, while Evelyn Knapp left a lot to be desired. In fact, I like the Cagney Blondell combo. This was their first movie together, but they went on to do "Other Men's Women," "The Public Enemy," "Blonde Crazy," and "The Crowd Roars" (of what I've seen). Evelyn Knapp didn't do enough to sink the movie, but she sure didn't help.
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"Sinner's Holiday" took place at Coney Island. It was noisy and slightly debaucherous. Ma Delano (Lucille La Verne) ran a penny arcade and she ran her two children: Harry (James Cagney) and Jenny (Evelyn Knapp). They couldn't take a breath without Ma's knowledge. She kept tabs on the two of them at all times. Even still she didn't know that her baby boy had gotten mixed up with a bootlegger named Mitch McKane (Warren Hymer).
When Mitch had to go to trial for a murder he left Harry in charge of his operation. When Mitch was acquitted he came back looking for Harry. The word was that Harry had been stealing from Mitch. It was going to be curtains for Harry if the rumor was true.
I've watched dozens of movies from the 30's. Many of them I don't like, but there are some that are quite good. Even though they're black & white and the acting is different and the lingo is different, I can get into the movie as long as it's a good plot. I'm still getting used to "hooey" and "swell" as frequently used slangs.
James Cagney, Lucille La Verne, and Joan Blondell (playing Harry's girl, Myrtle) were perfectly fine, while Evelyn Knapp left a lot to be desired. In fact, I like the Cagney Blondell combo. This was their first movie together, but they went on to do "Other Men's Women," "The Public Enemy," "Blonde Crazy," and "The Crowd Roars" (of what I've seen). Evelyn Knapp didn't do enough to sink the movie, but she sure didn't help.
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