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6.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Jimmy the Gent remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like James Cagney doing that thing where he talks at a million miles an hour while looking like he wants to punch someone, yeah, go for it. If you want a movie with a coherent moral compass or quiet moments of reflection, steer clear. It’s a loud, frantic, and occasionally mean-spirited movie that moves so fast it barely remembers its own plot.
Cagney is essentially playing a thug in a suit, which is exactly why you clicked play. He’s trying to impress Bette Davis, who is surprisingly game for the slapstick stuff here. She’s way too good for him, obviously, but that’s the whole point of the bit, isn't it?
The pacing is genuinely manic. There's a scene early on involving a fake heir that happens so quickly I had to rewind just to see if I missed a transition. It’s like the editor was trying to set a land speed record.
It definitely lacks the polish of something like A Tailor-Made Man, where the humor feels a bit more calculated. Here, it’s just pure, unfiltered energy. It’s messy, sure, but it’s never boring. The way the movie pivots from a hard-boiled inheritance scam to a romantic comedy is jarring, but somehow it doesn't totally fall apart.
There's a weird lack of tension in the 'competition' aspect of the story. The rival guy is so bland you wonder why the movie spends so much time on him. He’s basically just a cardboard cutout for Cagney to lean against while he monologues.
Anyway, don't go in expecting a masterpiece. It's a B-movie with an A-list lead doing his best to keep the whole thing from sinking. 🍿