berfedd Plot: James Cagney, as a trading standards officer, finds himself treading on just about everybody's toes in his efforts to beat corruption.Review: Not a particularly polished production, but James Cagney is entertainingly watchable as a 'weights and measures' officer with a penchant for annoying the wrong people and making use of his fists when he can't think of anything better to do.There are other entertaining characters as well as the generic bad guys. James Burke stands out as a new recruit with the gift of the blarney, managing to effortlessly chat up Cagney's secretary and every other girl he meets. Joe Swayer as an old sparring partner of Cagney's also makes a good impression (and turns up in The Grapes of Wrath). There's not really a lot else to say, as this is ultimately a bit of a throw away movie, but there's a lot worse out there.www.thebestmovieof.com

Tweekums This lesser known Cagney film sees him playing the deputy chief of New York's Weights and Measures department, Johnny Cave, although he is acting chief as his boss has been put in hospital for going after the 'wrong' people. The people he is after are ripping off people for a few cents in every transaction; it may not seem like much but in a city the size of New York all those 'few cents' add up to an awful lot of dollars and some of the city's highest officials are up to their necks in it. He is particularly interested in Abel Canning; a city alderman who just happens to be his girlfriend's boss.While this isn't one of Cagney's better known films it isn't bad and even though he is on the right side of the law this time he is still the familiar tough guy. The idea of having a film about somebody working for the Department of Weights and Measures doesn't sound too thrilling but in reality it just means he is a cop by another name. The story is solid enough and although there are no real surprises along the way it is still enjoyable. Cagney puts in a decent performance as Cave and Mae Clarke is good enough as his love interest although the character is a bit underwritten. Some lightness is added to the proceedings by Cave's new partner, Irishman Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley… a character who has clearly kissed the Blarney Stone given his gift of the gab! Overall this may not be a classic but fans of Cagney and '30s crime dramas should enjoy it.

John T. Ryan ONCE KNOWN AS "the Professional Againster", a handle hung on him by Studio head honcho, Jack Warner, James Cagney had two periods in his career when he booked from his home studio. Seeking some sort of sweeter deal or possibly recognition as a producer, he took legal action in order to assure his exit.POVERTY ROW STUDIO, Grand National Pictures (they with the huge building clock as trademark)came calling and Jimmy answered. A two picture followed, SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT (1937) and today's honoree, GREAT GUY (1936).THIS PARTICULAR STORY had Cagney as the Good Guy, rather than being the Anti-Hero* criminal. Mr. Cagney was an investigator for the Department of Weights and Measures in NYC. His job was to protect the public from unscrupulous merchants and their cheating scams. From gas stations to meat markets, he and assistant James Burke, exposed and brought wrong doers to justice.INASMUCH AS THIS may have been just a tad too tame, not to mention dull and uninteresting, a subplot was in order.ROUNDING OUT THE story was a personal look at the man away from the job. We are shown how an honest public official may struggle in trying to live the American Dream.IN THIS CASE, Johnny 'Red' Cave and Fiancé, Janet Henry (Mae Clarke*) are shown making plans for a life of matrimonial bliss; but running into the proverbial brick wall of too little money with so much of the month to go. One scene cleverly opens with the couple discussing these problems; while they were sitting on a couch and easy chair in their living room. A long camera shot revealed them to be in a furniture store.FILLING OUT THE cast were such staunch and enjoyable supporting actors; such as James Burke, Ed Brophy, Mary Gordon, Joe Sawyer and Dwight Frye; the guy who had gained such recognition at Universal with such creepy characterizations as Fritz (FRANKENSTEOIN, 1931) and Renfield (DRACULA, also 1931) and Carl (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, 1935).** SOME OF THE scams portrayed in GREAT GUY were reprised in the 1950's TV Series, RACKET SQUAD with Reed Hadley as Captain Braddock.AS FAR AS the financial rewards of the Cagney-Grand National Pact, we guess that Mr. Cagney did okay; but these two movies spelled disaster for Grand National, who went belly up, drowning in a deluge of red ink.CAN YOU SAY law of diminishing returns?NOTE * Yes, this is the one and same Mae Clarke who portrayed fiancé, Elizabeth, in FRANKENSTEIN and Cagney girlfriend, Kitty in THE PUBLIC ENEMY. Good thing there were no grapefruits on the set! NOTE ** Mr. Dwight Frye, who met fame through his uncanny ability in creating the most horrifying characters, oddly enough was known for his work in romantic and musical production on stage. He appeared in both Cagney-Grand National collaborations.

loza-1 We have films about cops, private detectives, district attorneys, defence lawyers; now here's one about a man who works for the weights and measures - an important job overlooked by cinema. But it's exciting, since the task of getting a square deal for the public inevitably puts the protagonist up against organised crime.Nowadays film-goers would see the "one honest man" crushed by the crooked system he is fighting against. He's setting up home with the girl he loves. He needs the job, and is being pressurised by a crooked politician. But here Cagney - as good with his fists as he is with his mouth - wins through in the end. It lacks the tension of the modern thriller, but these are more sophisticated times. Nevertheless,this is a delightful film.