James Cagney (like Nicolas Cage and possibly no one else quite so successfully) doesn’t really act, he performs. Call his character what you like, you are watching Jimmy Cagney.

WHITE HEAT

Raoul Walsh

1949

James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O’Brien, Margaret Wycherly, Steve Cochran

Screenplay by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts; story by Virginia Kellogg

Title: WHITE HEAT

Year: 1949

Director: Raoul Walsh

Cast: James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O’Brien, Margaret Wycherly, Steve Cochran

Writing: Screenplay by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts; story by Virginia Kellogg

Genre tags: CRIME, THRILLER