Remembering James Cagney in ... White Heat 🎥 Is a 1949 American film noir directed by Raoul Walsh and starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Margaret Wycherly and Steve Cochran. Written by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts, White Heat is based on a story by Virginia Kellogg, and is considered to be one of the best gangster movies of all time. In 2003, it was added to the National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library

The role of ruthless gangster Tom Powers propelled James Cagney to stardom in THE PUBLIC ENEMY, but it almost went to another actor. He was originally cast as the quiet Matt Doyle. Cagney's performance established him as the essence of the ruthless, hair-trigger hoodlum. | Turner Classic Movies: TCM

The infamous grapefruit scene in THE PUBLIC ENEMY ('31) was actually a practical joke James Cagney and Mae Clarke played on the crew. Director William A. Wellman decided to keep it in the final film. After its release, women's groups around America protested the on-screen abuse of Clarke. | Turner Classic Movies: TCM