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White Heat
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White Heat

1949
Drama
Crime
1h 54m
A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant heist. Shortly after the plan takes place, events take a crazy turn.
Directed by:
Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh
Written by:
Ivan Goff Virginia Kellogg
+1 more
Starring:
Fred Clark Fred Clark Edmond O\ Edmond O'Brien Virginia Mayo Virginia Mayo Mickey Knox Grandon Rhodes James Cagney James Cagney Steve Cochran Steve Cochran Margaret Wycherly John Archer Ian MacDonald Ray Montgomery Ford Rainey Ford Rainey
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Genres:
Drama, Crime
Country:
USA
Language:
English
imdb More information at IMDb
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White Heat

1949
Drama
Crime
1h 54m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 72.65% from 1016 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 24 Apr 2017
95
96th
Look at me I'm Madonna watchin' old gangster flicks
Rated 24 Apr 2017
henrikHenrik
Rated 25 Mar 2011
80
80th
Less a film noir than a regular gangster flick (where Ma is the boss!). But a pretty good one at that.
Rated 25 Mar 2011
joseywalesjoseywales
Rated 26 Nov 2008
89
96th
One of the top Noir/Gangster classics chock full of great performances.
Rated 26 Nov 2008
damildamil
Rated 03 Aug 2015
70
67th
It's a pretty fun gangster movie. James Cagney's performance is silly and manic, but still great. There were a few scenes that probably could have been cut, as the film did feel a little too long for what it was. Overall though, it's a fairly solid and accessible film with one of those classic Hollywood endings.
Rated 03 Aug 2015
nobambanobamba
Rated 11 May 2020
80
88th
Pretty good gangster movie buoyed by a strong performance by Cagney, a varied cast, and a plot that keeps everything moving, even in the confines of the penitentiary. It has some pro-FBI artifacts popular at the time but thankfully it wasn't too one-sided. The mother was great. Fav scene: mom telling off the authorities.
Rated 11 May 2020
cosmicmonkeyCosmicMonkey
Rated 26 Jul 2019
83
77th
Exciting police thriller that stands apart from others with it's clever plotting, strong character development and a psychological exploration. This easily could've gone of the rails, if wasn't for some directorial restraint, and Cagney's powerhouse performance being able carry both the plot and themes of the film.
Rated 26 Jul 2019
hotsakehotsake
Rated 28 Nov 2018
76
87th
Cagney is at his hard boiled nutty best here. The film is fast paced and surprisingly vicious. I thought Verna Jarrett was maybe the worst of the lot with all of her double crossings, I kept expecting Cody to kill her up close and with a smile. The sci-fi tracking scene knock my rating down a bit but its still an excellent movie.
Rated 28 Nov 2018
krf7krf7
Rated 08 May 2012
95
97th
Damn son, Cody goes hard.
Rated 08 May 2012
vesupriavesupria
Rated 16 Mar 2010
6
62nd
Whilst I'll agree that there's not much in the way of splitting 'right and wrong' here, Cagney's unpredictable mental condition, one step away from insanity, very often brings this towards boiling point. The plot is clever, and the inside informant role is well done, not so much acting wise, but the way it is written into the plot. The finale is pretty cool, I love the way they captured the chemicals plant, it looks particularly grim and menacing.
Rated 16 Mar 2010
xacviantxacviant
Rated 08 Jan 2012
77
43rd
While James Cagney played a great many unpleasant gangsters in his career, WHITE HEAT's Cody Jarrett is an out-and-out psychotic; tortured by mysterious headaches and dependent on his mother, he's a fascinating character, and if Cagney's portrayal of his madness is a bit hammy at times, it's still a compelling performance. The rest of the film is a solid melodrama, with exciting moments and good acting, particularly Margaret Wycherly as Cody's mother. No masterpiece, but definitely worthy.
Rated 08 Jan 2012
hehejajahehejaja
Rated 30 Jun 2008
70
57th
A sombre crime-film with a complex main character; Cody (Cagney) is a merciless bad guy along with his fellow gangsters, but his "tough guy-persona" is challenged (but also abetted) by his secret affection for his mother, and his violent "migraine headaches" suggest a vulnerability under the hard surface. The scene in where Cody gets the message that his mother is dead, and just totally flips out, is strangely powerful - his sorrowful outcry stays. Interesting, but not immense.
Rated 30 Jun 2008
landstanderLandstander
Rated 29 Apr 2009
7
69th
There are some slow parts, but it's bookended by fantastic sequences. It's interesting to note this movie was made some 17(ish) years after Cagney's most revolutionary gangster movie, The Public Enemy, so there's a certain level of self-awareness to Cagney's explosive attitude. I mean really, when his gangster posse includes HIS MOTHER, it's hard to argue the movie is having a little fun with itself.
Rated 29 Apr 2009
snufkin88Snufkin88
Rated 14 Jul 2019
71
37th
Classic cops n robbers but there's nothing really special about this film. Cagney gives a good show as the manchild psychopath and I imagine this spin on a lead thug would have been utterly thrilling at the time. Great ending despite that last line.....
Rated 14 Jul 2019
astralartistAstralArtist
Rated 04 May 2008
98
98th
One of James Cagney's signature performances (featuring the famous "Made it Ma, Top of The World" line) & my personal all time favorite gangster film. Although this film is notable for its interesting mix of film noir & documentary film styles, it is essentially an actor's movie, basking in a stellar supporting cast (Edmund O'Brien, Virginia Mayo, William Kellogg, etc.) & demonstrating what made Cagney one of the greatest actors in film history. Essential viewing for any real acting fan.
Rated 04 May 2008
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 03 Sep 2020
75
69th
Wow, the "hero" was a backstabbing prick at the end. Still a nice tight thriller though.
Rated 03 Sep 2020
closefriendCloseFriend
Rated 16 Apr 2013
80
75th
I genuinely didn't see several of the plot twists coming. Every little cue I dismissed as extraneous turned out to have great importance later. The film just connected with me perfectly both as a thriller and a character study of a sociopath with mama issues.
Rated 16 Apr 2013
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 26 Jun 2016
99
97th
Terrific gangster movie is at least as exciting and fast paced today as it must have felt to 40s audiences - Cagney's archetypal performance as head of a criminal gang is an incandescent, white-hot master class in commanding the screen, with Wycherly almost as impressive in her brief scenes as his doting mother. One great chase scene after the other keeps you glued to the edge of your seat - right up to the 'Top Of The World' explosive finale. Truly great stuff.
Rated 26 Jun 2016
solomonburrrSolomonBurrr
Rated 29 Mar 2020
81
78th
81.3
Rated 29 Mar 2020
kito1kito1
Rated 01 Feb 2017
20
0th
The greatest amount of time is wasted with story that goes nowhere. The ending does not take a "crazy turn" at all, very disappointing. The score is terrible, it is blatant and obscenely loud. The protagonist as crazed gunslinger is quite interesting. Overall not worth any of your time.
Rated 01 Feb 2017
sebbysebby
Rated 07 Aug 2011
80
91st
Probably one of the best realized crime movies from the era. Cagney's performance is over the top and epic, and the ending is one of the greatest ever.
Rated 07 Aug 2011
theyshoot07theyshoot07
Rated 01 Mar 2008
87
79th
# 257
Rated 01 Mar 2008
kercKerc
Rated 27 Jan 2012
29
96th
Utterly annihilating.
Rated 27 Jan 2012
drstrangeluvdrstrangeluv
Rated 12 Dec 2011
80
77th
James Cagney doing what he does best: play a complete fucking psychopath. It, like most film noir requires us to suspend disbelief at the many conveniences laid out to make way for its plot, but let's face it-- this is a Cagney vehicle and he drives that shit through a concrete wall at 120 MPH. The ending is iconic for a good reason.
Rated 12 Dec 2011
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 14 Nov 2012
73
44th
It's not clever, intriguing, or action packed. It holds little value for modern audiences. I've seen Cagney do better, and have easily seen Walsh do better. The ending was pretty cheesy, but satisfying.
Rated 14 Nov 2012
braddad68braddad68
Rated 30 Aug 2017
98
94th
One of the best gangster movies I've ever seen! Cagney is ruthless.
Rated 30 Aug 2017
knwsvxgzmkNwsVXgzm
Rated 18 Apr 2017
6
44th
Perfectly likeable, but doesn't do anything to take it from good to great.
Rated 18 Apr 2017
rosenritterrosenritter
Rated 20 Aug 2018
7
67th
Lacks bite compared to some of the other noir classics of the era, and maybe I'm not as sold on Cagney's performance as some. Mental illness is fundamental to the villain's character but is depicted rather cartoonishly. The story however is expansive and beautifully economical; I've seen "crime epics" do less with three hours than this movie does with two.
Rated 20 Aug 2018
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 05 Apr 2010
96
96th
Cagney is simply astonishing, but the rest of the cast--particularly O'Brien, Mayo and Wycherly as "Ma"--are excellent as well.
Rated 05 Apr 2010
theyshoot08theyshoot08
Rated 19 Dec 2008
86
72nd
290
Rated 19 Dec 2008
rthornhillrthornhill
Rated 26 Mar 2009
90
72nd
Pretty good Cagney crime vehicle. The famous ending is spectacular.
Rated 26 Mar 2009
nobletNoblet
Rated 05 Feb 2012
77
62nd
Has a certain volatile energy that I enjoy in crime films. While nothing about White Heat feels truly special, the feeling that Cody could snap at any time really drives the movie forward and makes it pretty fun to watch.
Rated 05 Feb 2012
3drevelation3dRevelation
Rated 10 Mar 2012
77
73rd
A great gangster film with a great performance from James Cagney. The story was actually pretty decent also. Definitely a film to see for fans of gangster films.
Rated 10 Mar 2012
stainStain
Rated 26 Mar 2007
80
68th
Famously cool Cagney crime film
Rated 26 Mar 2007
michaelhashMichaelhash
Rated 31 Oct 2012
93
73rd
93.000
Rated 31 Oct 2012
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 28 Aug 2022
62
30th
Plays the undercover cop tension well, but other than that it's pretty unremarkable. Cagney just goes around slapping the shit out of everyone.
Rated 28 Aug 2022
mrcarmadyMrCarmady
Rated 13 Jun 2011
88
70th
The scene where Cagney goes utterly mad is chilling to the bone. The police procedural is surprisingly compelling.
Rated 13 Jun 2011
napolenbradynapolenbrady
Rated 14 Mar 2019
91
84th
91.00
Rated 14 Mar 2019
akatemossfanAKateMossFan
Rated 01 Jul 2022
80
90th
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 09 May 2012
87
95th
köstebek, tren soygunu, anne-ogul, hapishane, soygun cetesi, hapishaneden kacis, psikopat, (tren soygunuyla 300.000 dolar calan cetenin lideri soygun esnasinda 4 kisi öldürür. İdam edilmemek icin baska bir eyalette islenen kücük bir sucu üstlenir. Cezaevine konulur. Pesinden bir polis cezevine gönderilir. MUHTESEM)
Rated 09 May 2012
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 07 Feb 2007
3
38th
I can't think of the word I'd used to describe this...I fall back on "hard." It's got a very hard edge; unlike most noirs, which rely on moral ambiguity and down-on-their-luck losers, as well as implementing high-contrast chiaroscuro, this is filmed in straightforward B&W with a clear moral dividing line, and uses great characters and great performances as its draw. Cagney is particularly memorable, of course.
Rated 07 Feb 2007
beardobaldobeardobaldo
Rated 01 Feb 2018
70
39th
Cagney delivers another spectacular starring gangster role. He learned quickly that if you're good at something (in this case, being a gangster), stick with it!
Rated 01 Feb 2018
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 08 Feb 2020
80
78th
I'm normally not a fan of gangster movies, but this one worked for me. I'm not sure if it's the supporting cast (who seemed like full characters rather than cardboard thugs) or the noir-ish feel that this will all end badly. It never felt like it dragged, especially as the cat-and-mouse game rushed to the conclusion.
Rated 08 Feb 2020
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 19 Dec 2006
62
20th
I don't like Cagney, or maybe I just don't like these old-timey gangster films. It was okay, I guess, but I didn't care about what was going on, and for the most part it was pretty predictable anyway.
Rated 19 Dec 2006
dardandardan
Rated 06 Oct 2015
83
88th
Unrelenting white heat simultaneously constitutes the greatest strength and weakness of both Cody and the film.
Rated 06 Oct 2015
boomdiddlyboomdiddly
Rated 23 Jan 2016
94
96th
This film burns with a pure white flame--- It shoots to kill, not to maim
Rated 23 Jan 2016
chemical404chemical404
Rated 18 Dec 2009
70
83rd
Cagney is on top of the world. His character is so interesting and complex, that you don't even feel bad putting yourself on the side of evil. It feels studio system slowed down this film a bit with 'correct' ending. That famous line should have been last in this film.
Rated 18 Dec 2009
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 17 Jan 2010
5
44th
Probably a bit too overpraised because of the iconic ending. It's an all right film, but I had to pause a few times cause it was a tad bit too boring for me. I like how the film didn't take itself too seriously. There is a lot to like about this but it just didn't resonate with me as much as it should.
Rated 17 Jan 2010
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 01 Mar 2007
60
62nd
Another Cagney great a true classic.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 15 Dec 2011
95
98th
This is a great classic film. James Cagney gives one hell of a performance, perhaps his best performance ever! The scene where Cagney looses it in jail is great.
Rated 15 Dec 2011
decanusellisDecanusEllis
Rated 01 Apr 2022
80
71st
This film is straight up cold fucking blooded
Rated 01 Apr 2022
dogubombDogubomb
Rated 04 Dec 2013
40
35th
50/50..... With a copper!
Rated 04 Dec 2013
shmendrekShmendrek
Rated 11 Feb 2009
4
83rd
Not exactly high art, but it's fast-paced and silly enough for an hour's entertainment. Cagney hams it up appropriately as a tough-talking, Oedipal gangster. The finale is the most memorable scene, but the undercover prison job is more enjoyable. Good for a Monday night when there's nothing else to do.
Rated 11 Feb 2009
syntheseizurSyntheseizur
Rated 14 Dec 2012
79
56th
Starts as an unremarkable, by-the-numbers crime film, but it really shapes up once the story shifts to the prison. The real story here is with the undercover cop, and while Cagney's character has some nuance, it's just too standard to carry the film. There's a lot of great dialogue, and the interaction within Cody's gang is delightful. The film shares a lot with Walsh's High Sierra (which is a good thing), but it comes up short with a weaker, less cohesive ending. Entertaining nonetheless.
Rated 14 Dec 2012
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 10 Jul 2009
58
48th
I actually think this is somewhat overrated. Cagney may have seemed like a badass gangster back in the day but his acting hasn't aged well. I have taken an inexplicable liking to Virginia Mayo even though she's not that good an actress.
Rated 10 Jul 2009
theyshoot10theyshoot10
Rated 13 Jan 2010
84
68th
315
Rated 13 Jan 2010
nbd_rabNBD Rab
Rated 01 Mar 2013
90
91st
Cagney blazes a performance trail as a psychotic manchild gangster that would be imitated in many films to come. One of the classic cops-and-robbers stories.
Rated 01 Mar 2013
icarusIcarus
Rated 07 Dec 2017
85
79th
Very well paced thriller in which every character of significance is trying to scheme or manipulate someone else. This fundamental human disconnection reveals an underlying lack of humanity at its end, portrayed ferociously by Cagney.
Rated 07 Dec 2017
punqPUNQ
Rated 09 Nov 2021
90
99th
James Cagney back to his roots at what he did best. Being a gangster. A rotten, migraine insanity driven mama's boy, controlling his gang and his gold digging blond mercilessly. Iconic role for the great Cagney! Edmond O'Brien as a undercover cop infiltrating the gang does his best Humphrey Bogart impersonation. Must be among his best roles too. And what can I say about Margaret Wycherly as a Mob Ma? The film is always thrilling. Not a dull moment in sight. Pure gangster genius!
Rated 09 Nov 2021
theyshoot11theyshoot11
Rated 30 Nov 2011
84
68th
#314
Rated 30 Nov 2011
dinamitadinamita
Rated 10 Oct 2010
60
40th
cagney just isn't likable and portrays an uninteresting character, and most of the characters are (deliberately) bland. best features here are the women, who kick ass, and the surprising tension evoked for the fate of the boring-as-hell mole.
Rated 10 Oct 2010
pilgermannpilgermann
Rated 10 Jul 2011
80
76th
Drags in parts, but it's full of great little sequences and the story takes some nice turns as it goes along.
Rated 10 Jul 2011
armonicaArmonica
Rated 03 Oct 2021
90
91st
One of the best film-noirs I've ever seen
Rated 03 Oct 2021
paulofilmopaulofilmo
Rated 04 Oct 2008
64
20th
Quite boring, but I love the regression theme that often goes with Cagney's films.
Rated 04 Oct 2008

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