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7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Lady Killer remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Should you watch Lady Killer tonight? If you’re a fan of James Cagney doing that thing where he talks at a million miles an hour while looking like he’s about to punch a wall, yes. It’s a breezy, pre-code era romp that doesn't demand much from your brain.
However, if you need a coherent script that makes actual sense by the final act, you’re going to be disappointed. The whole thing feels like it was stapled together in a weekend.
Cagney is Dan Quigley, a theater usher who gets pushed around once too often and decides to stick up the place. It’s a quick pivot, honestly. One minute he’s checking tickets, the next he’s a full-blown gangster. The movie doesn't waste time with motives, which I kind of respect.
Then he goes to Hollywood. It’s funny how easily he just walks onto a studio lot and becomes a star. Like, people just hand him scripts and say, 'Here, go be famous.' It’s a total fantasy, but watching Cagney navigate a movie set while trying to avoid his old mob buddies is good, twitchy fun.
There is a scene where he’s practicing his acting in front of a mirror that feels weirdly self-aware. It’s like the movie knows it’s a bit of a joke. Cagney looks like he’s having a blast playing a guy who is bad at acting.
The pacing is all over the place. It feels a bit like On with the Show in that it wants to be a backstage look at the business, but then someone remembers it’s a gangster movie and suddenly there’s a shootout.
Some of the extras in the background look like they wandered in from the street. There's one guy in a hat near the back of the studio canteen who just stands there staring at the camera for a solid ten seconds. I couldn't stop looking at him.
The dialogue is snappy, if a little dated. It’s got that 1930s 'hey-you-mug' energy that either clicks for you or makes you want to turn the volume down. I liked it.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even trying to be one. It’s just a movie about a guy running from his problems by becoming a movie star, which is a pretty relatable anxiety if you ask me. 🎬
Honestly, the ending is a bit of a mess. It just stops. It’s like the writers ran out of film and said, 'Good enough, cut it there.' I didn't even realize the credits were rolling until the music kicked in.
If you've seen enough of these, it's a solid way to kill an hour. Just don't go looking for any profound lessons about the industry. It’s just Cagney being Cagney, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need on a Tuesday night.
IMDb —
1917
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