When I was watching last night, I hurrayed inwardly to myself at the mention of the Trojan Horse story...see? I was right!! Then I inwardly groaned when realized I better brush up on my Greek Tragedy, because The Trojan Horse is a Roman story by Virgil.
I don't know about you, but I LOVED yesterday's lineup - forgot how much I enjoy gangster movies. Cagney looking young and racehorse ready for stardom in
Doorway to Hell, Bogie in a rather sexy starmaking turn himself (still as a bad guy) in
King of the Underworld...did you see that kiss he planted on Joanie Blondell in
Bullets or Ballots? Holy cow, I thought I'd faint! These two virile guys and Eddie G. really made the thirties what it was - the original Fast and Furious. There's so much heat in those thirties films, so much anger, so much speed. It's got me primed for Mob City tonight that's for sure, though I honestly can't make up my mind whether to watch it or Flying Down to Rio.... what a decision!
You’re right, there’s often the “rise and fall” element in the gangsta journey and “White Heat” is no different. They all have trusted lieutenants, no? I’m thinking of Eddie G. with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in “Little Caesar.” But Fairbanks wanted nothing to do with being that close to "the power." He'd rather dance with Glenda Farrell.
I like how all these guys - Rico, Eddie in Roaring Twenties, and Cody - they all have their Achilles Heel.... basically love...whether it be friendship or romantic love. Just like in the myths, just like in Arthurian legend, these guys are taken down by something so simple. It also redeems them somewhat. Tom Powers decides to come home, try to start over... well, he comes home. In a body bag. Gotta give those screenwriters credit, they knew that the only thing that could stop these balls of fire, these hoodlums with explosive temperaments, was the lowliest thing on the planet, and yet the most exalted of emotions.
Watching White Heat again last night, I was impressed not with the scenes of mayhem and violence, but the scene between Cody and Fallon, in the bushes after Fallon has wrestled with the gunsel in order to go into town. Cagney is just a marvel here in this private moment. "Maybe I am nuts" is about the most pathetic, inward and emotionally true moment for Cody. It's so tender a scene, and yet frightening too, because even Cody doesn't understand his own rage.
Whoa, Icarus??? You ARE pulling out the big guns. Cody’s hubris is getting him into big trouble. It’s a train wreck. He even brings in a Trojan horse to help with our Grecian metaphor. His men follow him blindly. They obviously think Cody is smarter than they, and he is. He just doesn’t use his smarts for good. I’m loving Steve Cochran making some type of bid for power. He obviously got Virginia Mayo to bump off Ma: ( “I did it for you.” ) There are definitely cracks in the wall around Cody.
Cody is crazy like a fox. That's why they follow. Those guys, the hoods, well they are all dumb as stumps, but they can sense when someone is a born leader. I like Steve Cochran, a dumb guy, thinking he's a big man, when we know he's really even more full of hubris than Cody. Cochran is just not...smart. He hasn't got the brains of a rock. And besides, you can't win against a hate machine. Machiavelli taught us that, if you are going for power, you've got to cut yourself off from friendship. Unfortunately Cody also has that little kernel of love to bring him down.
Maybe that’s why watching the news doesn’t bother me when I see certain politicos go down boneheaded paths. The thrust of the story is watching what NOT to do. I see it in movies all the time. Those blinding headaches of Cody’s is also a metaphor for how blind Cody is. He can’t see one of his henchmen making moves, he can’t see that Fallon is disingenuous. There are none so blind...
Blinded by love, by emotion. It's the through line of gangster cinema.
I’ve got to see “Roaring Twenties” again. You and I talked a little about it re: Cagney and Priscilla Lane. I’ve got to see that play out again and how Cagney, not wanting to face a reality ( “She’s just not that into you...” ) goes down a wrong path. D’ya think Boetticher explores Greek tragedy issues too in his westerns. I’m thinking of “The Westerner” ??? Is that with Gary Cooper and Lee J. Cobb ( not a Boetticher film, I know. Westerns are jumbled in my brain. )
I have to rewatch
The Roaring Twenties, which has been a huge favorite of mine over the years. My first really big cry in the movies if I remember correctly. Walsh plays Cagney and Gladys George like violins... so full of pathos, so emotional. Just like J. Geils says, "He loves her, and she loves him..."
As for
The Westerner, that's Cooper and Walter Brennan, and this is another favorite of mine from way back. Obviously this is a story I never get tired of.
Plus it doesn't hurt to have a cameraman like Gregg Toland to film that dusty wooden framed bar and the landscape around it. What better place to have your best and only friend betray you? Stick the knife in your back while giving you the only thing you ever wanted?
