Highest rated as cast or director
James Cagney's 6 titles from the 1940s have a median Balasaur Score of 77, led by White Heat (85) and Yankee Doodle Dandy (81), against 70 for those from the 1930s.
Biography
James Francis Cagney, Jr. (July 17, 1899 – March 30, 1986) was an American film actor. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of roles, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys". In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time. In his first performing role, Cagney danced dressed as a woman in the chorus line of the 1919 revue Every Sailor. He spent several years in vaudeville as a hoofer and comedian until his first major acting role in 1925. He secured several other roles, receiving good reviews before landing the lead in the 1929 play Penny Arcade. After rave reviews for his acting, Warners signed him for an initial $500 a week, three-week contract to reprise his role; this was quickly extended to a seven year contract. Cagney's seventh film, The Public Enemy, became one of the most influential gangster movies of the period. Notable for its famous grapefruit scene, the film thrust Cagney into the spotlight, making him one of Warners' and Hollywood's biggest stars. In 1938, he received his first Academy Award Best Actor nomination for Angels with Dirty Faces, before winning in 1942 for his portrayal of George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy. He was nominated a third time in 1955 for Love Me or Leave Me. Cagney retired for 20 years in 1961, spending time on his farm before returning for a part in Ragtime mainly to aid his recovery from a stroke. Cagney walked out on Warners several times over his career, each time coming back on improved personal and artistic terms. In 1935, he sued Warners for breach of contract and won; this marked one of the first times an actor had beaten a studio over a contract issue. He worked for an independent film company for a year while the suit was settled, and also established his own production company, Cagney Productions, in 1942 before returning to Warners again four years later. Jack Warner called him "The Professional Againster", in reference to Cagney’s refusal to be pushed around. Cagney also made numerous morale-boosting troop tours before and during World War II, and was President of the Screen Actors Guild for two years.
Acted in 78
2020s
- 2022
Becoming Marilyn
(archive footage)
2000s
- 2008
Warner at War
(archive footage)
- 2006
- 2004
Remembering Ragtime
NY Police Commissioner Rheinlander Waldo (archive footage)
1980s
- 1986
Routine Pleasures
Ed "Eddie" Bailey (archive footage)
- 1985
- 1984
Terrible Joe Moran
Joe Moran
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
- 1982
Showbiz Goes to War
(archive footage)
- 1981
1970s
- 1976
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage) (uncredited)
1950s
- 1959
Shake Hands with the Devil
Sean Lenihan
Never Steal Anything Small
Jake MacIllaney
- 1957
Man of a Thousand Faces
Lon Chaney
- 1956
These Wilder Years
Steve Bradford
Tribute to a Bad Man
Jeremy Rodack
- 1955
The Seven Little Foys
George M. Cohan
Love Me or Leave Me
Martin Snyder
- 1953
A Lion Is in the Streets
Hank Martin
- 1952
- 1951
Starlift
James Cagney
Come Fill the Cup
Lew Marsh
- 1950
1940s
- 1949
- 1948
- 1947
13 Rue Madeleine
Robert Emmett 'Bob' Sharkey
- 1946
Okay for Sound
Tommy Powers (archive footage)
- 1945
- 1943
Johnny Come Lately
Tom Richards
You, John Jones!
John Jones
- 1942
Captains of the Clouds
Brian MacLean
- 1941
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Steve Collins
- 1940
Torrid Zone
Nick Butler
1930s
- 1939
- 1938
Angels with Dirty Faces
Rocky Sullivan
Boy Meets Girl
Robert Law
- 1937
Something to Sing About
Terry Rooney
- 1936
Great Guy
Johnny 'Red' Cave
- 1935
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Bottom
The Irish in Us
Danny O'Hara
'G' Men
‘Brick' Davis
Devil Dogs of the Air
Tommy O'Toole
- 1934
Here Comes the Navy
Chesty O'Conner
He Was Her Man
Flicker Hayes, aka Jerry Allen
Jimmy the Gent
Jimmy Corrigan
- 1933
Picture Snatcher
Daniel Patrick "Danny" Kean
Hard to Handle
Lefty Merrill
- 1932
Winner Take All
Jim 'Jimmy' Kane
The Crowd Roars
Joe Greer
- 1931
The Millionaire
Schofield
Other Men's Women
Ed 'Eddie' Bailey
- 1930
Sinners' Holiday
Harry Delano
1920s
- 1928
The Singing Fool
Handsy Patron at Blackie Joe's (uncredited)
Directed 1
1950s
- 1957
Short Cut to Hell
Director
Produced 1
1960s
- 1960
Appearances56
2020s
- 2021
Parkinson at 50
Self (archive footage)
2010s
- 2017
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2009
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
Self (archive footage)
- 2008
Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film
Self (archive footage)
You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story
Self (archive footage)
- 2006
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
Self (archive footage) (voice)
- 2005
Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
Self (archive footage)
Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear? Whaddya Say?
Self (archive footage)
- 2004
- 2003
Tupac: Resurrection
Self (archival)
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1998
Doris Day: It's Magic
Self
- 1997
Bogart: The Untold Story
Self (archive footage)
- 1992
James Cagney: Top of the World
Self (Archive footage)
- 1991
Movie Tough Guys
Self (archive footage)
1980s
- 1989
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
Self (archive footage)
- 1988
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1985
- 1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1982
Showbiz Ballyhoo
Self (archive footage)
Night of 100 Stars
Self
1970s
- 1979
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
Self
- 1978
- 1976
It's Showtime
Self (archive footage)
Hooray for Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
- 1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
- 1973
- 1971
Dynamite Chicken
Self (archive footage)
1960s
- 1968
Arizona Bushwhackers
Narrator
- 1966
Ballad of Smokey the Bear
Narrator (voice)
- 1965
The Day of the Oath
Narrator
- 1962
The Road to the Wall
Narrator
- 1961
1950s
- 1957
Short Cut to Hell
Himself (prologue)
- 1956
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Himself
- 1955
- 1953
- 1950
1940s
- 1948
- 1947
Blow-Ups of 1947
Self
- 1943
The Voice That Thrilled the World
Self (segment 'Yankee Doodle Dandy') (archive footage)
Show-Business at War
Self
- 1942
Calling All Girls
Himself (archive footage)
- 1941
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1940
Breakdowns of 1940
Self
1930s
- 1939
Breakdowns of 1939
Self
Hollywood Hobbies
Self (uncredited)
- 1936
Breakdowns of 1936
Self
- 1935
A Dream Comes True
Himself (uncredited)
Things You Never See on the Screen
Self
A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio
Himself (uncredited)
- 1934
The Hollywood Gad-About
Self (uncredited)
Screen Snapshots No. 11
Himself
- 1931
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 11: 'Practice Shots'
Himself