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    White Heat

    • 19491949
    • Not RatedNot Rated
    • 1h 54min
    IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    30K
    YOUR RATING
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    James Cagney in White Heat (1949)
    Official Trailer
    Trailer2:24
    1 Video
    89 Photos
    ActionCrimeDrama

    A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist.A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist.A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist.A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist.A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist.

    • Director
      • Raoul Walsh
    • Writers
      • Ivan Goff(screen play)
      • Ben Roberts(screen play)
      • Virginia Kellogg(suggested by a story by)
    • Stars
      • James Cagney
      • Virginia Mayo
      • Edmond O'Brien
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Raoul Walsh
    • Writers
      • Ivan Goff(screen play)
      • Ben Roberts(screen play)
      • Virginia Kellogg(suggested by a story by)
    • Stars
      • James Cagney
      • Virginia Mayo
      • Edmond O'Brien
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 194User reviews
    • 87Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    White Heat
    Trailer 2:24
    White Heat

    Photos89

    James Cagney in White Heat (1949)
    James Cagney "White Heat" 1949 Warner
    James Cagney in White Heat (1949)
    James Cagney and Virginia Mayo in White Heat (1949)
    James Cagney and Virginia Mayo in White Heat (1949)
    White Heat (1949)
    White Heat (1949)
    White Heat (1949)
    White Heat (1949)
    White Heat (1949)
    White Heat (1949)
    White Heat (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Cagney
    James Cagney
    • Cody Jarrettas Cody Jarrett
    Virginia Mayo
    Virginia Mayo
    • Verna Jarrettas Verna Jarrett
    Edmond O'Brien
    Edmond O'Brien
    • Hank Fallon aka Vic Pardoas Hank Fallon aka Vic Pardo
    Margaret Wycherly
    Margaret Wycherly
    • Ma Jarrettas Ma Jarrett
    Steve Cochran
    Steve Cochran
    • Big Ed Somersas Big Ed Somers
    John Archer
    John Archer
    • Philip Evansas Philip Evans
    Wally Cassell
    Wally Cassell
    • Cotton Vallettias Cotton Valletti
    Fred Clark
    Fred Clark
    • The Trader aka Winstonas The Trader aka Winston
    Joel Allen
    • Operativeas Operative
    • (uncredited)
    Claudia Barrett
    Claudia Barrett
    • Cashieras Cashier
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Bennett
    Ray Bennett
    • Guardas Guard
    • (uncredited)
    Marshall Bradford
    • Chief of Policeas Chief of Police
    • (uncredited)
    Chet Brandenburg
    Chet Brandenburg
    • Convictas Convict
    • (uncredited)
    John Butler
    John Butler
    • Motorist at Gas Stationas Motorist at Gas Station
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Carson
    Robert Carson
    • Agent at Directional Mapas Agent at Directional Map
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Cartledge
    • Car-Hop at Drive-In Theatreas Car-Hop at Drive-In Theatre
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Clark
    Bill Clark
    • Guardas Guard
    • (uncredited)
    Leo Cleary
    • Railroad Firemanas Railroad Fireman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Raoul Walsh
    • Writers
      • Ivan Goff(screen play)
      • Ben Roberts(screen play)
      • Virginia Kellogg(suggested by a story by)
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Tad Dibbern <DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu>
    gangsterpsychopathprisonchemical plantheist198 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • James Cagney Is Red Hot In "White Heat"!
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Film-Noir
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The character of Cody Jarrett was based on New York murderer Francis Crowley, who engaged in a pitched battle with police in the spring of 1931 at the age of 18. Murdered on January 21, 1932, his last words were: "Send my love to my mother."
    • Goofs
      Big Ed's corpse breathes.
    • Quotes

      Cody Jarrett: Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

    • Alternate versions
      Also Available in a Colorized Version.
    • Connections
      Edited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      Five O'Clock Whistle
      (1940) (uncredited)

      Music by Josef Myrow, Kim Gannon & Gene Irwin

      Played on a radio

    User reviews194

    Review
    Top review
    Cagney's last great gangster film was his best...
    WHITE HEAT is the ultimate gangster melodrama with the great James Cagney at the peak of his powers. No one else in the cast is a slouch either--Virginia Mayo convinces me that Bette Davis was right when she suggested Mayo should have played Rosa Moline in BEYOND THE FOREST.

    Edmond O'Brien as a doggedly determined cop pretending to be a prisoner to get close to Cagney, is excellent, as he always is in these kind of roles. Steve Cochran's dirty lowdown heel is a standout as the darkly handsome actor makes the most of every line, especially in his scenes opposite Virginia Mayo.

    Director Raoul Walsh keeps the film spinning along at a fast clip, never once letting the rather uncomplicated plot lose any of its tension as he underscores the pathology of Cody Jarrett's character, a man obsessed by his conniving mother (Margaret Wycherly). Cagney's prison breakup scene is masterfully handled by the actor and staged for maximum effect. A rousing score by Max Steiner underlines all of the suspenseful action and there's an electrifying climax with Cagney's famous "Top of the world, ma!" before he meets his end.

    James Cagney has never had a better gangster role and he's given brilliant support by an outstanding cast. By all means, worth viewing as one of the great Warner crime melodramas of the late '40s.
    helpful•82
    26
    • Doylenf
    • Jun 15, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 3, 1949 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sprung in den Tod
    • Filming locations
      • Joliet Prison - Collins Street, Joliet, Illinois, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,300,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,534
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 54min
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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