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IMDbPro

White Heat

  • 19491949
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
9,423
283
James Cagney in White Heat (1949)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:24
1 Video
90 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.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
9,423
283
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • 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
    • 208User reviews
    • 87Critic reviews
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    White Heat
    Trailer 2:24
    White Heat

    Photos90

    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 Jarrett
    Virginia Mayo
    Virginia Mayo
    • Verna Jarrett
    Edmond O'Brien
    Edmond O'Brien
    • Hank Fallon aka Vic Pardo
    Margaret Wycherly
    Margaret Wycherly
    • Ma Jarrett
    Steve Cochran
    Steve Cochran
    • Big Ed Somers
    John Archer
    John Archer
    • Philip Evans
    Wally Cassell
    Wally Cassell
    • Cotton Valletti
    Fred Clark
    Fred Clark
    • The Trader aka Winston
    Joel Allen
    • Operative
    • (uncredited)
    Claudia Barrett
    Claudia Barrett
    • Cashier
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Bennett
    Ray Bennett
    • Guard
    • (uncredited)
    Marshall Bradford
    • Chief of Police
    • (uncredited)
    Chet Brandenburg
    Chet Brandenburg
    • Convict
    • (uncredited)
    John Butler
    John Butler
    • Motorist at Gas Station
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Carson
    Robert Carson
    • Agent at Directional Map
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Cartledge
    • Car-Hop at Drive-In Theatre
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Clark
    Bill Clark
    • Guard
    • (uncredited)
    Leo Cleary
    • 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
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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 1/21/32, his last words were, "Send my love to my mother."
    • Goofs
      The gas station attendant removes the radiator cap with his bare hand.
    • 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 reviews208

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Who But Cagney Could Pull This Off?
    If you like James Cagney and you like the film noirs of the late 1940s, well, it doesn't get much better than this.

    Cagney, who was always great at playing wild gangsters, makes this film interesting all the way through its two hours. Despite being a half-century old, he was still not far from being at the top of his game. His character, Cody Jarrett, is one of the most famous of the many he portrayed on film, which is saying a lot.

    Who could sit on his mother's lap and still look like a tough guy? Not many, but Cagney pulled it off here with his tough mama, played really well by Margaret Wycherly. This was a new type of role for Wycherly, who was used to doing Shakespeare. You wouldn't know it from this "Ma Jarrett" role!

    The "hoods" in here are all realistic tough guys and gals. Cagney's two-faced wife is played well by Virginia Mayo, who plays the typical (for this genre) floozy blonde whom you can trust about as far as you can throw.

    The final scene - "Top Of World, Ma!" - is one of the most famous in all of film history. It's nice to see a nice print of this out on DVD now and some of the features are very informative. Included is an interview with Mayo, who still looks pretty good for an old lady!
    helpful•91
    12
    • ccthemovieman-1
    • Dec 17, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 3, 1949 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Maschinenpistolen
    • Filming locations
      • 198th Street and Figueroa, Torrance, California, 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
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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