There's something about James Cagney that I've liked since seeing him in "The Public Enemy." He's so opposite and different than your William Powells, Gary Coopers, and Ricardo Cortezes. He was a tough guy and never once did I see him in the high society role.
In "Hard to Handle" James plays Lefty Merrill, a fast talking idea-man who could rightly be called a con man. He went for the big, ostentatious money making schemes that involved many participants.
He got himself in hot water in southern California when his "partner" split with all their money during the prize ceremony of a dance contest. Lefty's girlfriend, Ruth Waters (Mary Brian), won the contest and was to be awarded $1000. Before Lefty could publicly present her with the money his partner cleaned him out. To make matters worse, Ruth's mother, Lil (Ruth Donnelly), stirred the crowd of onlookers into a frenzy ready to tear Lefty apart. He was barely able to escape with his life, but he'd need some dough, and fast, if he was to keep Lil from moving to New York with her daughter.
He got the money, but Lil was a bit of a con woman herself. She'd took off to New York before Lefty could reunite with Ruth.
Lefty found Ruth in New York, but he was going to have to get through the guard dog known as Lil Waters if he wanted any kind of life with Ruth. And the only appeasement for Lil "Golddigging" Waters was greenbacks. Lefty would have to get a lot of them or potentially lose his love to John Hayden (Gavin Gordon), a model photographer.
I loved this movie mostly because I'm a fan of James Cagney. I wanted to see him win. I wanted him to go legit, make money, and get the girl.
In "Hard to Handle" James plays Lefty Merrill, a fast talking idea-man who could rightly be called a con man. He went for the big, ostentatious money making schemes that involved many participants.
He got himself in hot water in southern California when his "partner" split with all their money during the prize ceremony of a dance contest. Lefty's girlfriend, Ruth Waters (Mary Brian), won the contest and was to be awarded $1000. Before Lefty could publicly present her with the money his partner cleaned him out. To make matters worse, Ruth's mother, Lil (Ruth Donnelly), stirred the crowd of onlookers into a frenzy ready to tear Lefty apart. He was barely able to escape with his life, but he'd need some dough, and fast, if he was to keep Lil from moving to New York with her daughter.
He got the money, but Lil was a bit of a con woman herself. She'd took off to New York before Lefty could reunite with Ruth.
Lefty found Ruth in New York, but he was going to have to get through the guard dog known as Lil Waters if he wanted any kind of life with Ruth. And the only appeasement for Lil "Golddigging" Waters was greenbacks. Lefty would have to get a lot of them or potentially lose his love to John Hayden (Gavin Gordon), a model photographer.
I loved this movie mostly because I'm a fan of James Cagney. I wanted to see him win. I wanted him to go legit, make money, and get the girl.