6/10
James Cagney Dances Up a Studio Storm
26 September 2010
Dancing "Big Apple" band leader James Cagney (as Terry Rooney) heads for Hollywood to make his "Galore Pictures" debut. After his down-to-earth attitude is mistaken for arrogance, Mr. Cagney leaves tinsel-town thinking he's a failed actor, and marries singing sweetheart Evelyn Daw (as Rita Wyatt). Meanwhile, Cagney's debut makes him the country's newest movie star. Publicist William Frawley (as Hank Meyers) and studio chief Gene Lockhart (as B.O. Regan) hope to cash in, but with the now married Cagney as a more appealing single man.

Mr. Frawley demonstrates some "Fred Mertz" mannerisms, and Mr. Lockhart apes a certain studio mogul.

On "leave" from Warner Bros., and with multi-"talent to burn," Cagney more than proves his worth. Jack Warner wisely made him "an offer he couldn't refuse," and Cagney re-signed before another studio - MGM, the references to Gable, Montgomery, and Taylor would suggest - got too interested. His hoofer role reached its fruition with Cagney's magnificent "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942). "Something to Sing About" is a tuneful title; of the songs written by director Victor Schertzinger, "Right or Wrong" was the biggest minor hit, for swing singer Mildred Bailey.

****** Something to Sing About (9/30/37) Victor Schertzinger ~ James Cagney, Evelyn Daw, William Frawley, Gene Lockhart
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