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Storyline
Cody Jarrett is the sadistic leader of a ruthless gang of thieves. Afflicted by terrible headaches and fiercely devoted to his 'Ma,' Cody is a volatile, violent, and eccentric leader. Cody's top henchman wants to lead the gang and attempts to have an 'accident' happen to Cody, while he is running the gang from in jail. But Cody is saved by an undercover cop, who thereby befriends him and infiltrates the gang. Finally, the stage is set for Cody's ultimate betrayal and downfall, during a big heist at a chemical plant. Written by
Tad Dibbern <DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu>
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Taglines:
Pick up the pieces folks, Jimmy's in action again!
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Jim Thorpe:
the sports legend is one of the cons in the "telephone game".
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Goofs
The fabric marker on Ma Jarrett's car changes positions.
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Quotes
Cody Jarrett:
Made it, Ma! Top of the world!
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Connections
Referenced in
Lost Signal (2007)
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Soundtracks
"Five O'Clock Whistle"
(1940) (uncredited)
Music by
Josef Myrow,
Kim Gannon &
Gene Irwin
Played on a radio
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An extraordinary performance from James Cagney turns what might have been a by-the-numbers movie into a masterpiece. Everything revolves around Cagney. Edmond O'Brien, Virginia Mayo, and Margaret Wycherly are all superb, but when Cagney is off the screen you wait for him to come back.
Cody Jarrett (Cagney) is a desperate gangster, standing on the ledge at the end of the Public Enemy era. But 'White Heat' gives us a much more intricate psychological portrait of it's anti-hero protagonist than earlier gangster movies. Cody's dependence on his "Ma" is at the crux of the story; there is no finer example of the corrupted mother in film history, even Mrs. Bates takes a backseat to Ma Jarrett.
Throughout the film, events, and characters, conspire against Cody all leading to his delivering of one of most iconic lines ever concocted by Hollywood. I won't repeat it, you know what it is even if you've never seen the movie, but even with prior knowledge it's still an extraordinarily moving moment given the context in which it's delivered.