First off, as I was watching this I kept being reminded of BOARDWALK EMPIRE, what with the characters involved in action in the First World War and then returning home to set up a bootlegging outfit during the Prohibition; I'm sure Nucky Thompson even gets a mention at one point. After the set-up, this turns into the James Cagney show once more, with the PUBLIC ENEMY actor putting in a compelling performance as a master criminal whose live revolves around him attempting to juggle romance, business, and his rivals.
THE ROARING TWENTIES benefits from an assured supporting role from a youthful Humphrey Bogart and some wonderfully staged scenes, particularly at the impressive climax which must have been akin to watching the climax of De Palma's SCARFACE for audiences of the day. Cagney's performance carefully brings all the quirks and flaws out of his character, and without him this wouldn't have been half as good.
THE ROARING TWENTIES benefits from an assured supporting role from a youthful Humphrey Bogart and some wonderfully staged scenes, particularly at the impressive climax which must have been akin to watching the climax of De Palma's SCARFACE for audiences of the day. Cagney's performance carefully brings all the quirks and flaws out of his character, and without him this wouldn't have been half as good.