CLAIM TO TOUGH GUY FAME: 

“Mmmm you dirty rat!” 

Did you hear the unmistakable inflection in your head when you read it? It’s one of the most famous pieces of movie dialogue ever and the trademark line that’s come to define James Cagney, even though guess what? He never actually said that in one of his movies, making it one of the most misquoted lines of all time. (For the record, the actual line was “You dirty yellow-bellied rat!”)

Nevertheless, when you say “You Dirty Rat” out loud, you’re conjuring up more than just a line. You’re manifesting an entire attitude, the swagger of the truly original gangsters. Before the Hays Code came down in 1934 codifying stricter regulations for film content, including violence, “Gangster” films were all the rage. They pushed the envelope when it came to violence and brazen criminal content, and many accused them of being morally detrimental.

This new subgenre of films that glorified criminals needed a face and a name, and one James Cagney answered the call, starring in several such pictures. He was so convincing as a gangster that he kept being cast for them, and he eventually grew to resent his reputation, as it was severely limiting the kind of roles studios were offering. Did he ever escape the mold? Stay tuned!

He began his career in 1930, which makes him perhaps the very first actor that we can call a true cinema Tough Guy! His antiheroes and villainous cads helped lay the very foundation of the now-pervasive Crime genre, providing a blueprint for convincingly portraying “bad guys” with just the right touch of ethos. His characters tended to avoid redemptive arcs; they were bad to the core, hopelessly irredeemable. For audiences who couldn’t get enough of this new archetype, it was good to be bad.

Although he ended up typecast for criminal roles, Gangster films are how James Cagney broke out and rose to super stardom, so I’m sure it was hard for him to completely resent them. They forged him a legacy, one that boldly blazed a trail for generations of cinematic Tough Guys to come.

WAS HE TOUGH IN REAL LIFE?

As you can perhaps tell from the super thick accent that he never really bothered trying to hide on screen, Cagney was a native New Yorker, born in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. New York has really gone soft lately, but at one time, it was the Tough Guy capital of this country, and being born and raised there during the old days gives you extra street cred.

Cagney was born into hard times. Two of his siblings died as infants, and the newborn James was so sick that his family thought he had no chance of making it, lamenting that he would surely die before he could be baptized. But he came out on the other side, and through continued health problems at a young age, there was one thing he learned: how to fight.

Like many other Irish New York families of that era, Cagney grew up desperately poor. When your next meal isn’t promised and you have to scrap and hustle if you want one, that’ll toughen you up real quick. As one of the oldest of the family’s five surviving children, he didn’t have much of a childhood, instead being depended on to help put bread on the table. Cagney ground it out in a wide variety of jobs as an adolescent, but instead of sitting back and counting stacks, he gave every dollar he earned to his family to help out.

Cagney had a reputation on the streets as a scrappy fighter not to be messed with, and often had to resort to violence to protect himself and his siblings in their rather rough neighborhood. This natural fighter eventually transitioned his skills into the ring, following his father’s footsteps into the world of amateur boxing. As he polished his technique, he began to shine, winning second place in a state-wide tournament against much more experienced fighters. His coaches saw enormous potential and encouraged him to turn pro, but alas, he was still a minor, and his mother, horrified at the idea, vetoed this career choice.

At one point, he was military-minded and joined the Student Army Training Corps for a taste of the life. He was absolutely miserable and dropped out after just one semester. I respect the decision and I’m sure his heart was in the right place, but I just don’t think that’s enough time invested to claim any Tough Guy cred from the experience.

BUT DOES HE HAVE THE ULTIMATE TOUGH GUY CRED, FIGHTING IN A WAR?

He got lucky really, being just barely too young to serve in the horrors of World War I. By the time he turned 18, we were in peacetime and his services were no longer needed. This timing also meant that by the time World War II rolled around, he was on the other end, too old to be considered useful to the military.

He was, however, highly active in the USO during the war, visiting troops overseas to give them a taste of home and a boost in morale. He couldn’t serve in active combat, but he used his celebrity to contribute to the war effort in a positive way, making multiple USO tours during the War and being one of the most visible and accessible stars involved.

So do we ding James Cagney for a lack of combat experience? I don’t think you can. He didn’t choose to be just the right age to get out of fighting in both World Wars. Sure, he could’ve joined up during peacetime and earned some cred there, but the military isn’t for everyone, and I think that we can safely say that after his experiment with the Corps failed so miserably, the military likely  just wasn’t a good fit for him.

And while there’s nothing really that “tough” about visiting troops and performing for them, you have to respect the effort. He couldn’t serve, but still did something positive with his time and energy. The USO is military in the loosest of terms, but traveling around the globe with the goal of entertaining still earns minor Tough Guy points. I think that the boost in morale is more significant than you would think when it comes to fighting a long war.

PATH TO GREATNESS:

Yes, he had a rough-and-tumble streak and environment, but young James was more complex than your average street brawler; behind the violence, there was another side of him. You see, he had a notable passion that I left off of his Tough Guy resume; the man was born to dance. He took up tap dancing at an early age and became known around the neighborhood for his prowess. He loved to dance, loved performing, and was eager to take his craft to the next level and learn new styles and moves.

In 1919, someone took notice of his dancing skills and encouraged him to audition for a new local stage production. He almost passed just because he thought it was such a longshot, but he tried out anyway, and his slick moves earned him his first on-stage role as a member of the chorus. This required him to come out of his naturally shy shell as the chorus was made up entirely of men dressed in drag.

Even though his mother did not approve of his new fascination with acting and wanted him to go to school instead, he continued holding up his end by working multiple jobs at once, and by this time, he was 20 and she couldn’t really stop him. After his show ended its run, his ambition grew, and he auditioned for a bonafide Broadway production. Once again, he scored a part in the chorus thanks to his dancing, rapidly picking up the whole acting and singing thing as he went along.

Relegated to the background, he was still dynamite in the show, and by the time it closed, he had the confidence to try and break into show business for real. He joined a number of different vaudeville troupes, touring the country and performing full time. Unfortunately, vaudeville was a little too popular; they found themselves in fierce competition with other troupes for audience attention. After several years of relentless touring and performing, he failed to make his mark, and the Cagneys gave up the vaudeville lifestyle for good.

Still hungry for success, James was somehow not discouraged from pursuing show business at this point. Maybe they had just been going about it the wrong way. There was nothing he wanted to do with his life other than act, so in 1924, they decided to pack up and head for California to give Hollywood a try. Initially, he stuck with what he knew and performed in various stage productions. 

At last, he landed a major role, breaking out from the chorus and landing the lead in a massive musical stage production. By this time, his dancing skills had gone next-level, and he was earning a reputation for his innovative moves. So impressive was his originality and unique flair that they hired him to do double duty and also work as the show’s choreographer! He proved talented not just as a dancer, but as a teacher as well, and excelled at both roles for the show, which proved to be a massive critical and commercial smash hit.

He now had the juice to try and break into movies and landed a number of small roles in the early 1930s, slowly bolstering his profile. In 1931, after so many years of trying, he finally got his breakthrough role as the star of the “Gangster” film Public Enemy. Cagney was originally cast in a supporting “Good Guy” role, but his acting was so compelling, they switched him to playing the villainous lead part.

Audiences had never seen anything quite like Public Enemy, and it was more than just a massive hit; it was the Great Depression version of a pop culture phenomenon. Cagney’s performance was singled out to nearly unanimous acclaim, with both critics and audiences fascinated by how convincingly he brought such a scummy character to life, making him over-the-top yet believable. Its most iconic moment involves Cagney mashing a grapefruit into his female co-star’s face.

If there’s one thing Hollywood’s not a fan of, it’s originality. They tend to endlessly churn out whatever sells, and that meant more Gangster films. Again just going with what was working, Warner Brothers teamed Cagney up with their other breakout Gangster film star, Edward G. Robinson, for Smart Money (1931). It was well-received, and its success meant that it was new star Cagney’s final supporting role.

Cagney was on a roll and was soon greenlit to star in Taxi! (1931). It was another Gangster film, and another resounding success with his scoundrel performance at the center. This iconic film is the one that gave us “You dirty yellow-bellied rat!” and reset the standard for the genre.

Despite his rapidly ascending star, Cagney was unhappy at Warner Brothers, where he was under contract. He (rightfully) believed that he was criminally underpaid and deserved a massive raise to compensate for his success and profits generated for the studio. When Warner Brothers refused, he threatened to quit acting and become a doctor. They called his bluff, and responded by suing the studio for what he believed to be rightfully his. In a landmark decision, he shockingly won, becoming the first actor to legally prevail against the studios. He would make it worth their trouble, blossoming into Warner Brothers’  top-earning star.

LATER CAREER:

Cagney continued starring in big films, but began to feel pigeonholed by his success in Gangster movies. He actively tried to break away from the Tough Guy stereotype and did manage to diversify his roles in the 1930s as star power came with some degree of added control. He did make exceptions and return to the Gangster genre from time to time, most notably in Angels With Dirty Faces (1938), which notably earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

As the 1940s rolled around, Cagney continued the streak of success that made him Hollywood’s most bankable star, starring in a string of hit films. Then, in 1942, he finally stumbled onto his dream project: a full-scale, big budget movie musical titled Yankee Doodle Dandy. The studio initially tried to cast Fred Astaire, who turned them down, paving the way for their second choice, Cagney, who made the role entirely his own.

I don’t know why he was never considered for other Hollywood musicals, but he finally had the chance to show off his extraordinary, one-of-a-kind dancing. He did not disappoint, dazzling audiences with show-stopping sequences that were expressive and inventive. As he already knew, he was a pure natural for the musical genre, and he also relished the opportunity to subvert audience expectations by playing directly opposite his Tough Guy reputation.

Yankee Doodle Dandy was not only a big hit, but Cagney’s daring, memorable performance took Hollywood by storm, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor, mighty impressive hardware for any career.

By the 1950s, Cagney was getting older and was no longer the same box office force. In order to keep his career alive, he resorted to starring in Gangster films once again, with varying degrees of success. One thing was for sure: he could still bring the heat, and no one could touch him when it came to playing bad.

In 1962, the aging Cagney, struggling to adapt to more modern acting and directing techniques, endured a particularly sour filming experience, nearly quitting a job in the middle for the first time. He had simply had enough and had lost his passion for acting, and it didn’t help that opportunities were waning, as no one wanted a lead actor in their 60s. 

He admitted it; he was washed up, but at least he knew when to leave the party. He retired from acting for good, never to return to film, although he was nearly drawn out of retirement a few times by some particularly tempting offers, including the role of Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1964) and a supporting part in The Godfather Part II (1974).

Even though actors back then commanded a mere fraction of the lavish pay that modern stars enjoy, Cagney earned enough during his time on top to comfortably retire to his farm in upstate New York. Calling it quits with plenty of time to enjoy old age is the dream, and how baller would it be to straight up have a farm just for fun that did presumably not require waking up at 4 am to do chores?

Even though he retired early, I guess he didn’t so much enjoy his later years, which were marred by numerous health issues. Despite these ailments, he lasted until 1986 before succumbing to a heart attack a few months shy of his 87th birthday. The eulogy at his funeral was delivered by his close personal friend, President Ronald Reagan.

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Nominated three times for the Best Actor Academy Award, winning once.

Received the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award in 1971

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Received the privileged distinction of being commemorated with his likeness featured on a postage stamp. They don’t just hand those out; you have to have serious clout and be an absolute legend to be immortalized on a dang stamp. 

FUN TOUGH GUY FACTS:

Don’t mess with this Tough Guy! In addition to boxing, he was also a Black Belt in Judo. 

His acting was all self-taught; he never had so much as a single lesson of formal training.

He was an outstanding baseball player and played on a semi-professional team as a teenager. Before acting came on the scene, his ultimate dream was to play in the Major Leagues. That would’ve been cool to see, but I’m glad we have his acting career instead.

Used his sharp photographic memory to quickly memorize scripts and was known to never make mistakes.

Married to the same woman for 65 years. And you thought he had a long life-–she not only outlived him, she made it all the way to 95!

KEY FILMS:

The Public Enemy (1931), Angels With Dirty Faces (1938), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), White Heat (1949), Love Me or Leave Me (1955)