James Cagney stars as Cody Jarrett, a psychotic criminal with probably the greatest mother fixation beside Tony Perkins in "Psycho".
We are quickly introduced into how Jarrett operates during a crime on a train. One of the members is burned by a blast of stream from the engine and Cody orders his men to leave him to die.
The police hunt Jarrett and his men. A policeman named Philip Evans (John Archer) leads the charge to get Cody, but he proves to be a very smart enemy with the help of his mother played by Margaret Wycherly.
Cody eventually sets it up so he is arrested for a minor crime in another state and then plots his escape from prison for a huge chemical plant payroll robbery.
This is a very simplified synopsis of the movie, as it is very complex and twisted. This was made at a time when Hollywood knew how to make movies and men were men and women were women. It's an all time classic that shouldn't be missed by any film noir or classic movie fan.
The rest of the cast includes Edmond O' Brien, Virginia Mayo, Steve Cochran, Fred Clarke, Claudia Barrett, Wally Cassell and Marshall Bradford. This is a highly recommended movie, and it is Cagney's greatest performance bar none. Top of the Wolrd ma!!!
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