![]() Cody then takes Hank hostage, but he escapes when the police throw tear gas into the plant. Cotton spots them at the same time that one of the gangs recognizes Hank as an agent. The police track the truck to an oil plant in San Pedro and surround the area. While pretending to fix Verna's radio, he rigs up a signal that will locate the truck for the agents and then leaves a message on a gas station washroom mirror. Meanwhile, Hank tries to tip off the police. Cody kills Big Ed and then he, Verna and Hank join the rest of the gang.Ĭopying the gimmick of the Trojan Horse, Cody plans to rob a payroll by sneaking the gang into a company inside an oil tanker. Although Verna killed Ma, she tells Cody that Big Ed shot her in the back and offers to show him how to sneak past Big Ed's defenses. When Verna learns of Cody's escape, she tries to sneak away, but Cody is waiting for her. Outside, Cody kills Parker and then heads for Bakersfield to avenge Ma's death. There, he uses a smuggled gun to take the doctor hostage and, together with Hank, Parker and two other convicts, makes his escape. Cody goes berserk in the prison mess hall and is taken to the dispensary. Hank conveys the escape plans to an agent who is posing as his wife, but on the day of the break, a newly arrived inmate reveals that Ma is dead. Hank helps Cody, the way Ma did, and that night Cody reveals that he plans to escape. Cody begs her not to try, and his fears for her safety bring on a headache. After she hears about the attempt, Ma reassures Cody that she will take care of Big Ed. Meanwhile, Big Ed takes advantage of Cody's absence to take over the gang.Īt the prison, Hank saves Cody's life when Roy Parker, one of Big Ed's associates, tries to kill him. Under the name Vic Pardo, Hank is sent to jail, where he plans to get close to Cody. Although Evans is aware that Cody is lying, he cannot prove it, so he sends for undercover agent Hank Fallon. Cody now creates an alibi for the murderous train robbery, a federal offense, by confessing to a robbery in Illinois that took place at the same time. ![]() Treasury agents, led by Philip Evans, come close to catching Cody, but thanks to Ma's warning, the gang escapes. The later discovery of Zuckie's scalded and frozen body, together with Cotton's prints on the cigarette pack, provide the Treasury Department with enough clues to link the train robbery to Cody's gang. ![]() Cotton only pretends to do the deed, however, and leaves a pack of cigarettes behind with his friend. Cody decides to take advantage of an approaching storm to leave the hideout.Īfter promising to send a doctor back for Zuckie, Cody surreptitiously orders gang member Cotton Valleti to kill him. She is his ally against Big Ed Somers, who is waiting for a chance to take over the gang and get Verna for himself. Ma lovingly fosters Cody's criminal career and is the only one who can ease the blinding headaches that periodically immobilize him. Together with Cody's mother and his sexy, double-dealing wife Verna, the gang hides out in the mountains. During the robbery, Cody kills the engineers, and as one of the bodies falls, it activates a steam valve, badly scalding gangster Zuckie Hommell. See it and understand how Hollywood in its golden age, knew how to make gold out of plumb.Ruthless killer Cody Jarrett and his gang rob a train in California. What an actor! What a dancer! What a performer! It is impossible to define the fine qualities of Roy Del Ruth direction: the man who made some of the better (Folies Bergere de Paris, Broadway Melody of 1936, On the Avenue) as well as some of the worse (Du Barry was a Lady, Broadway Rhytm) musicals in Hollywood history, excelled in West Point Story,working with a screenplay that was only bright dialogue with no story to speak of. And this, immediately after his brilliant, hideous, terrific work in White Heat. His performance here is as good if not better than the one that earned him an Oscar (Yankee Doodle Dandy). Cagney, the street boy, the gangster, the tough guy, shines and sparkles in musicals. And James Cagney at his best, dancing, fighting, arguing and filling the picture with his legendary personality. The most alive performance of Virginia Mayo ever. But what fun! The best thing Doris Day did while at Warner Bros. A silly story, forgettable songs and a poor stage show of cadets on parade.
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