Brilliantly directed by Raoul Walsh, an old master of cinema hoodlumism, it returns a more subtle James Cagney to the kind of thug role that made him famous.
White Heat (1949)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:28
Fresh:28
Rotten:0
Average Rating:8.4/10
Consensus: Raoul Walsh's crime drama goes further into the psychology of a gangster than most fear to tread and James Cagney's portrayal of the tragic anti-hero is constantly volatile.
Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
US Box Office: $0
Synopsis: James Cagney solidified his tough guy persona in this brutal gangster opus about a vicious man who still loves his Ma. Cody Jarrett, the leader of a gang out west, has been busy knocking over... James Cagney solidified his tough guy persona in this brutal gangster opus about a vicious man who still loves his Ma. Cody Jarrett, the leader of a gang out west, has been busy knocking over banks and holding up trains. Complicating matters some, he has in tow his beloved Ma, his cool blonde beauty, Verna, and a suave double-crossing hood, Big Ed. The feds manage to put Cody behind bars on a minor charge. They then decide to plant an undercover agent in Cody's prison cell to win his confidence and encourage him to spill the beans about his criminal history. After a prison riot, Cody escapes. He leads the police on a chase through a mazelike chemical factory that culminates Cody's life of crime... and Cody insists on going out in his own blaze of glory. [More]
Starring: James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Steve Cochran
Starring: James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Steve Cochran, John Archer, Wally Cassell, Fred Clark, Ford Rainey
Director: Raoul Walsh
Director: Raoul Walsh
Producer: Louis F. Edelman
Composer: Max Steiner
Reviews for White Heat
Magnificent examination of the criminal mind and Cagney's finest moment.
Raoul Walsh's heroes had a knack for going too far, but none went further than James Cagney in this roaring 1949 gangster piece.
Its archetypal influence on later films like Goodfellas and the Al Pacino Scarface is striking, even if we can never again experience how new and bold it was back in its day....
Despite chronology (deranged by the censor's influence on the studios), this is really the fitting climax of the '30s gangster movie.
Cagney, intenso como de hábito, cria um personagem que, apesar de sua óbvia instabilidade psicológica e de sua crueldade patológica, conquista o espectador com sua carência emocional.
Cagney gives an utterly ferocious performance, arguably his finest, as Cody Jarrett, a psychotic gangster with an unholy mother fixation.
White Heat is vigorous and uncompromising. Cagney is all kinetic energy and raw nerve.
If you're looking for Cagney's best gangster role ever, you got it right here, on the top of the world.
White Heat’s ultimate message: love’s a *****…even crypto-incestuous love.
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 68% 68% | Sherlock Holmes | 26/12 |
| 40% 40% | The Lovely Bones | 26/12 |
| 100% 100% | The French Kissers | 26/12 |
| 85% 85% | Bright Star | 26/12 |
| 87% 87% | Nowhere Boy | 26/12 |
| 18% 18% | Alvin and the Chipmunk… | 26/12 |
| 10% 10% | Did You Hear About the… | 26/12 |
| 05% 05% | Old Dogs | 26/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- White Heat at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

Movieline gets bravely swept away with the recycled refuse of the 2000s.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

We're giving away a bunch of stuff from the upcoming Squeakquel.



Top Critic


