I prefer Cagney as a psycho hood or a taxi-driver fighting for his rights, but he's still can be sassy and cocky as a government man. He shows his dancer's moves here too, in scenes where his character learns boxing and judo, and his grace--played for laughs--is a glory to behold. Margaret Lindsay (forgotten today) is forgettable here, but Ann Dvorak is sweet and sad-eyed as the moll in love with old friend Jimmy. (Tip: skip the dumb prologue tacked on in '49 for the ten year anniversary.)

I don't get the prologue, which is never returned to, but the "film within the film" is a typically exciting WB actioner with James Cagney battling gangsters. The love story, which seems superfluous for most of the movie, ends up working out well.

Somebody realized how charismatic Cagney is and put him on the side of the law, so kids would want to become FBI agents instead of gangsters. Movie is nothing special, except that it is the first movie about FBI. And it wasn't usual for Hollywood movies to portray good guys with attitude. So Cagney in this film is kind of prototype of Dirty Harry. Now, where do I sign-up to join G-men?