A Song and Dance Man: James Cagney - Singing About Revenge and Dancing Around Bullets 

USC Scribe: October 2014

Thug. Killer. Convict. Mobster. Criminal. Gangster. The lethal characters that grace the movie screens as the lawbreaking heroes and protagonists of the early 1900s have a special place in the hearts of the American public. Audiences tended to sympathize with these shady characters, despite the fact that these men are portrayed as corrupting society and destroying the peace. Their criminal and homicidal ways are set aside by viewers for their defense of individual success and justice, a strong American ideal. Enjoying the rise and ultimate demise of the gangster, crowds of people were exposed to expressions of the dark side of American life through media, and the gangster film genre recreated the underworld that incubated it. The late James Cagney dazzled moviegoers with a protected viewpoint of the underworld and a look into the lifestyle and evolution of the gangster. James Cagney’s physicality, acting versatility, and resulting star persona helped solidify the conventions and beliefs surrounding the gangster, and mark the development of the cinematic genre in response to the changing American culture.