City for Conquest (1940)
City for Conquest is James Cagney at his finest. All the three gangsters of the silver screen had their own signature role, and James Cagney’s was a charming scoundrel, a little rough around the edges, with a quick temper and a quicker punch, who always has a dame waiting for him when he gets out of prison. In City for Conquest, the plot doesn’t exactly follow that archetype, but it’s a fantastic vehicle for Jimmy’s brand of star quality.
The worst part of the movie is unfortunately the beginning, where Frank Craven, a homeless bum, narrates and unnecessarily sets the scene. He’s pretty irritating, but thankfully he disappears for most of the movie. A group of kids are shown to the audience, foreshadowing their roles as grown-ups, and shortly afterwards, James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, and Arthur Kennedy grace the screen. Jimmy and Arthur are brothers, and while Arthur has a passion for classical music, they’re pretty poor. Jimmy loves his brother, and he becomes a boxer, managed by his friends Frank McHugh and Donald Crisp, so Arthur can focus on his music instead of money. Life threatens to take the three stars in different directions when Ann meets Anthony Quinn in a nightclub. Tony is a ballroom dancer, and he wants Ann to be his new partner; while she’s on the road dancing and Jimmy’s on the road boxing, will they be able to keep their long-distance romance alive?
Anyone who loves classic old movies, like Dark Victory and Casablanca, will love City for Conquest. It’s fantastic in a way only old movies can be, with just a touch of melodrama that magically becomes realistic in the black-and-white scenes. Jimmy is excellent, making the audience cheer and cry, and radiating bursts of energy whenever he’s on the screen. It makes sense that his romantic rival is Anthony Quinn; no one else would have the magnetism to compete against him. Young Tony is extremely handsome and darling, and when you see his dance talents in this movie, you’ll laugh that he’s most remembered by his dancing in Zorba the Greek.
Ann Sheridan didn’t get to be as famous another redheaded dancer, Rita Hayworth, but I like her infinitely better. She’s prettier, has a better figure, is an equal dancer, and is a far superior actress. The third major lead in the film deserves a very special mention. City for Conquest was Arthur Kennedy’s first movie, but you’d never guess it when you watch him. He was actually discovered by James Cagney, so that adds an extra level of sentimentality to see them play brothers in the film. Arthur mimes his piano playing very well, and his conducting is one of the best I’ve ever seen from an actor. It’s hard to believe after playing the handsome, sweet, sensitive brother, that some of his most famous roles were villains—but if you want to start off on the right foot with him, rent this movie first. Then check out The Glass Menagerie!
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not your friend. In the first scene while Frank Craven is narrating, the footage of the city is shown at tilted angles and it might make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Anthony Quinn movies here!
The worst part of the movie is unfortunately the beginning, where Frank Craven, a homeless bum, narrates and unnecessarily sets the scene. He’s pretty irritating, but thankfully he disappears for most of the movie. A group of kids are shown to the audience, foreshadowing their roles as grown-ups, and shortly afterwards, James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, and Arthur Kennedy grace the screen. Jimmy and Arthur are brothers, and while Arthur has a passion for classical music, they’re pretty poor. Jimmy loves his brother, and he becomes a boxer, managed by his friends Frank McHugh and Donald Crisp, so Arthur can focus on his music instead of money. Life threatens to take the three stars in different directions when Ann meets Anthony Quinn in a nightclub. Tony is a ballroom dancer, and he wants Ann to be his new partner; while she’s on the road dancing and Jimmy’s on the road boxing, will they be able to keep their long-distance romance alive?
Anyone who loves classic old movies, like Dark Victory and Casablanca, will love City for Conquest. It’s fantastic in a way only old movies can be, with just a touch of melodrama that magically becomes realistic in the black-and-white scenes. Jimmy is excellent, making the audience cheer and cry, and radiating bursts of energy whenever he’s on the screen. It makes sense that his romantic rival is Anthony Quinn; no one else would have the magnetism to compete against him. Young Tony is extremely handsome and darling, and when you see his dance talents in this movie, you’ll laugh that he’s most remembered by his dancing in Zorba the Greek.
Ann Sheridan didn’t get to be as famous another redheaded dancer, Rita Hayworth, but I like her infinitely better. She’s prettier, has a better figure, is an equal dancer, and is a far superior actress. The third major lead in the film deserves a very special mention. City for Conquest was Arthur Kennedy’s first movie, but you’d never guess it when you watch him. He was actually discovered by James Cagney, so that adds an extra level of sentimentality to see them play brothers in the film. Arthur mimes his piano playing very well, and his conducting is one of the best I’ve ever seen from an actor. It’s hard to believe after playing the handsome, sweet, sensitive brother, that some of his most famous roles were villains—but if you want to start off on the right foot with him, rent this movie first. Then check out The Glass Menagerie!
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not your friend. In the first scene while Frank Craven is narrating, the footage of the city is shown at tilted angles and it might make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Anthony Quinn movies here!