Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Harry Brown (screenplay)
Horace McCoy (novel)

Release Date:

4 August 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Drama

Tagline:

As only James Cagney can portray it!

Plot:

Starting with a violent prison break, clever, ruthless Ralph Cotter corrupts everyone around him.

Plot Keywords:

Robbery | Courtroom | Beautiful Woman | Blackmail | Jail Break

Cast

James Cagney	...	Ralph Cotter
Barbara Payton	...	Holiday Carleton
Helena Carter	...	Margaret Dobson
Ward Bond	...	Insp. Charles Weber
Luther Adler	...	Keith 'Cherokee' Mandon
Barton MacLane	...	Lt. John Reece
Steve Brodie	...	Joe 'Jinx' Raynor
Rhys Williams	...	Vic Mason
Herbert Heyes	...	Ezra Dobson
John Litel	...	Police Chief Tolgate
William Frawley	...	Byers
Robert Karnes	...	Det. Gray
Kenneth Tobey	...	Det. Fowler
Dan Riss	...	District Attorney
Frank Reicher	...	'Doc' Darius Green

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (MPAA rating: certificate #14661) | Sweden:(Banned)

Company:

William Cagney Productions

Trivia:

The film that Phil Spector and Lana Clarkson were watching in Spector's chauffeured car on the way to his Alhambra mansion the night of her murder.

Quotes:

Joe 'Jinx' Raynor: He ain't to be trusted.
Ralph Cotter: Why should *he* be different?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Breezy, Enjoyable and Violent!

Had a chance to watch KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE and although I don't agree with the claims of some that if you must see one "crime" film, this is it, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and that James Cagney was again terrific and on top of his game for this one. I also didn't get the feeling that this film was, in reality, WHITE HEAT 2, as some have said but it was a nifty follow up to that classic JC film. Cagney was indeed brutal and off his rocker, but it was more controlled and offset with his characters smarts and sense of humor. In WHITE HEAT, JC was just downright nuts, out of control and a lot more frightening IMHO. In KTG, Cags plays Ralph Cotter who after a daring and violent daylight prison break, uses his smarts to prove that he is no small timer and formulates a grand scheme to garner lots of cash and protection which involves crooked lawyers and crooked policemen. Cotter, in the end, is his own downfall as he goes too far and his romance with a high society girl with a very wealthy and powerful father, leads to his downfall because one thing you don't do is double-cross your moll! Excellent performance by all, including Barbara Payton and a near film stealing performance by Luther Adler as JC's eccentric and very crooked lawyer. Direction is robust and swiftly paced by Gordon Douglas and in the end, makes this film fun, breezy, yet violent, but also a very good watch.