Hard to Handle (1933)

Small time con artist Lefty Merrill has co-organized a crooked dance marathon and set-up his girlfriend to win the prize money. When his partner disappears with money before the contest is ... See full summary »

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

Robert Lord (screen play), Wilson Mizner (screen play),

Stars:

James Cagney, Mary Brian, Allen Jenkins

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Cagney	...	Lefty Merrill
Mary Brian	...	Ruth Waters
Allen Jenkins	...	Radio Announcer
Ruth Donnelly	...	Lil Waters
Claire Dodd	...	Marlene Reeves
Robert McWade	...	Charles Reeves

Storyline

Small time con artist Lefty Merrill has co-organized a crooked dance marathon and set-up his girlfriend to win the prize money. When his partner disappears with money before the contest is over, he's forced to come up with a series of cons to help pay it back.

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Plot Keywords:

dance | dance marathon | con trick | photographer | dieting | 

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Taglines:

Hey, Folks!... I'm back!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 January 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Bad Boy

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$189,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Vitaphone Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There is no accounting for nicknames, but "Lefty" Merrill writes and drinks with his right hand.

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Soundtracks

"Grapefruit Acres"
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Played by a radio orchestra and sung by an unidentifed man
Played as background music often

User Reviews

Decent But Not The Best of Early Cagney

James Cagney is better in the Roy del Ruth movies of this period. However, he was a dynamic, unstoppable force. He is believable here as a goodhearted con artist with a good heart.

He has some great scenes: In one, he runs down flight after flight of a winding staircase.

Mary Brian is the nominal leading lady. She's OK. But Ruth Donnelly is really Cagney's co-star here. Playing Brian's avaricious, canny mother, she is hilarious. Nobody can put one over on her. If anyone tries, she'll bounce right back. She'll change her tune. She'll double-cross and triple-cross to get what she wants for herself and her pretty daughter.

Donnelly was a reliable supporting performer in more movies than anyone could easily count. Rarely did she get such a role. She grabs it and runs with it. She and Cagney are fantastic together. It's a shame they were never teamed again.