He Was Her Man

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He Was Her Man

James Cagney is one of the ten greatest actors of all time. Joan Blondell is absolutely beautiful. There are several great character actors in here including Harold Huber as a standout. It is not a great movie, but it is a real movie. It was released shortly before the production code ended a great deal of artistic freedom.

I was surprised to read several negative reviews about this film. It is somewhat different tone for the duo, but so fitting for their last film together. This film has a poignant ending and a film I would watch again. They both worked so well together and in a professional manner. That says a lot for Hollywood.

With James Cagney and Joan Blondell headlining the cast, what more can you want? A good screenplay, that's what! The disappointing ending had me shaking my head, especially after I finally got used to Cagney in a mustache. And I never figured out who the "he" in the title was. Either Cagney, with whom Blondell falls in love after he seduces her in San francisco and in Victor Jory's house, or Jory himself, who was going to marry Blondell knowing she used to be a prostitute. Jory plays a Portuguese fisherman, but his accent is very phony, and none of the supporting cast was exceptional. There's some good suspense at the end but the film let me down. Still, I did like watching the two stars. The film was released a few weeks before the production code was more rigorously enforced. Blondell's character caused the Catholic Church to place the film on its "condemned" list.

This movie would merit a ten were it only for Victor Jory's depiction of an affable, sincere, ingenuous soul. But it haply has the merit of having been released just prior to the sanctimonious moral codes having been foisted on us. Cagney is ebullient and bursting from every scene with the passion, vigor and elan that made him justly renowned. The beauty of Joan Blondell is only enhanced by her realistic depiction of a good-hearted woman who has necessarily made her way in the Depression by bestowing sexual favors. It is refreshing truth .