The Roaring Twenties ***** (1939, James Cagney, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Gladys George, Jeffrey Lynn) – Classic Movie Review 3677

Director Raoul Walsh’s essential, rousing 1939 gangster movie stars James Cagney in one of his key roles. It’s a tale of three buddies trying survive in Prohibition America after fighting together in World War One.

Cagney gives a roaring performance as mobster Eddie Bartlett (modelled on the real-life Larry Fay), who fights in World War One, but finds himself out-of-work after the Armistice and tries an honest life as a cab driver but gravitates to bootlegging and crime.

Priscilla Lane plays Jean Sherman, the married woman Eddie loves and is ready to do anything to help, Humphrey Bogart plays Eddie’s buddy George Hally who turns to bootlegging, Jeffrey Lynn plays Eddie’s buddy Lloyd Hart who goes back to practice law and Gladys George plays Panama Smith, Eddie’s nightclub hostess partner (based on the real-life Texas Guinan).

With buddy George as his partner, Eddie builds a fleet of cabs via delivery of bootleg booze and hires Lloyd as his lawyer.

It is rousingly directed in a realistic style and an edgy fashion by Walsh, who has an eagle eye on the mood of the period. Though Jerry Wald, Richard Macaulay and Robert Rossen’s otherwise excellent script tends to let sentimentality win out over toughness, it comes up with memorable scenes and characters.

Still, with Bogart and Lynn impressive as Eddie’s old army pals, and people like Frank McHugh, Paul Kelly, Joseph Sawyer, Elisabeth Risdon, Abner Biberman, Murray Alper, Joseph Creehan, Ed Keane and Clay Clement also in the cast,  it must be counted as a vintage gangster film from Warner Bros.

The screenplay is based on a story by producer Mark Hellinger. He received a telegram on the night of the premiere saying: ‘From all the wonderful things I hear of The Roaring Twenties, I don’t need to wish you good luck. Hope you don’t suffer too much. Joan Crawford.’

It was a hit and it started a nostalgia craze with DJs playing roaring Twenties music and Life and Look magazines publishing retro layouts.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3677

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