Terrible Joe Moran *** (1984, James Cagney, Art Carney, Ellen Barkin, Peter Gallagher) – Classic Movie Review 5940

Director Joseph Sargent’s 1984 drama stars James Cagney in his final film and sole TV film. Infirm and at the age of 84, he gives a likeable performance as Joe Moran, a retired, disabled, wheelchair-using prizefighter sought out by his estranged grand-daughter Ronnie (Ellen Barkin), who, through her boyfriend, is mixed up with the mob.

There is a lot of chat and no action in the script by Frank Cucci, but the film remains enjoyable, especially for its redoubtable star. But also Art Carney scores too as Cagney’s loyal buddy, and he won a Primetime Emmy award as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for playing Tony.

Also in the cast are Peter Gallagher, Joseph Sirola, Floyd Patterson, Ed Koch, Harris Laskawy and Lawrence Tierney.

Sadly, after a stroke, Cagney was struggling to speak his dialogue and his voice had to be dubbed by Frank Gorshin. The script was planned for Katharine Hepburn as a retired tennis champion, but she passed and it was rewritten for Cagney as a retired boxer.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5940

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