The Warner Archive Collection has packaged The Public Enemy, Angels with Dirty Faces, Yankee Doodle Daddy, and White Heat together in the James Cagney 4-Film Collection. All of the packaged films have previously been released on Blu-ray.

As far as I know, none of these films have been previously released in 4K Ultra HD. But aside from that, you really can’t go wrong with this set of classics. His breakthrough performance in The Public Enemy kicks things off. It’s recognized as one of the best gangster movies in cinematic history. Next is Angels with Dirty Faces, a defining moment in his career. We get his Oscar-winning performance as George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy. After leaving Warner Bros., Cagney returned because he needed the money and this resulted in one of the best gangster films of all time, even if Cagney felt typecasted. His box office power wasn’t the same at this point in his career.

Other than Gene Kelly and James Cagney, the only other collection that I’ve added to my collection is the Errol Flynn 6-Film Collection. Warner Archive has been rather busy releasing Blu-ray collections with some of the stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. In addition to Gene Kelly, Cagney, and Flynn, they’ve packaged together sets for Greta Garbo, Gary Cooper, Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable, James Cagney, and Doris Day. Upcoming collections include Robert Taylor and James Stewart. Many of the included films have been previously released on Blu-ray, but it’s nice to have them all together in one set.

This one is worth it alone for the bonus features, especially the bonus content included with Yankee Doodle Dandy.

The Public Enemy

Synopsis

Two young Chicago hoodlums, Tom Powers (James Cagney) and Matt Doyle (Eddie Woods), rise up from their poverty-stricken slum life to become petty thieves, bootleggers and cold-blooded killers. But with street notoriety and newfound wealth, the duo feels the heat from the cops and rival gangsters both. Despite his ruthless criminal reputation, Tom tries to remain connected to his family, however, gang warfare and the need for revenge eventually pull him away.

Bonus Features

• Commentary with Robert Sklar:
• Warner Night at the Movies 1932
  • Introduction by Leonard Maltin
  • Blonde Crazy Theatrical Trailer
  • Newsreel
  • Short Feature: The Eyes Have It
  • Cartoon Short: Smile, Darn Ya, Smile!
• Short Feature: Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
• 1954 Rerelease Foreword
• Theatrical Trailer

DIRECTOR: William A. Wellman
SCREENWRITERS: Kubec Glasmon and John Bright
CAST: James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell, Donald Cook, Leslie Fenton, Beryl Mercer, Robert O’Connor, Murray Kinnell

Angels with Dirty Faces

Synopsis

Off-screen pals James Cagney and Pat O’Brien teamed up for the sixth time in this enduring gangster classic. Cagney’s Rocky Sullivan is a charismatic ghetto tough whose underworld rise makes him a hero to a gang of slum punks. O’Brien is Father Connolly, the boyhood chum-turned-priest who vows to end Rocky’s influence. Other ace talents join them: Humphrey Bogart as a scheming lawyer, Ann Sheridan as Rocky’s hard-edged girlfriend and the Dead End Kids as worshipful street urchins, all ably directed by Michael Curtiz. The 1938 New York Film Critics Best Actor Award came Cagney’s way, as well as one of the film’s three Oscar nominations. Watch the chilling death-row finale and you’ll know why.

Bonus Features

• Warner Night at the Movies 1938
  • Introduction by Leonard Maltin
  • Boy Meets Girl Theatrical Trailer
  • Newsreel
  • Musical Short: Out Where the Stars Begin
  • Porky & Daffy
• Audio Commentary by Dana Polan
• Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear, Whaddya Say?
• Lux Radio Theater Broadcast (5/22/1939)
• Theatrical Trailer

DIRECTOR: Michael Curtiz
SCREENWRITERS: John Wexley and Warren Duff
CAST: James Cagney and Pat O’Brien with Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, George Bancroft, and The Dead End Kids (Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, Gabriel Dell, Huntz Hall, Bernard Punsley)

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Synopsis

Legendary actor James Cagney stars in the role for which he won an Academy Award–the life of singer, dancer and songwriter George M. Cohan, a true Yankee Doodle Dandy. This non-stop musical tour de force sings, dances and celebrates the life and career of a music man who lifted a nation, the first entertainer awarded the United States Congressional Medal of Honor for his contribution to morale. From his early days as a vaudeville performer to his stardom on Broadway, George M. Cohan composed the songs that defined his generation. Directed with gusto by Michael Curtiz, the film has long been a national treasure, winning 2 additional Academy Awards (Best Musical Score and Best Sound Recording), and was nominated for 5 additional Academy Awards. The film was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1993 as a work of enduring importance to American culture.

Bonus Features

• Commentary with Rudy Behlmer
• Warner Night at the Movies 1942 (480i; 1.33:1)
  • Introduction by Leonard Maltin
  • Casablanca Trailer
  • Newsreel
  • Patriotic Short Subject Beyond the Line of Duty
  • Merrie Melodies Cartoon Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid
• Let Freedom Sing!: The Story of Yankee Doodle Dandy
• John Travolta Remembers James Cagney
• You, John Jones (Wartime Short starring Cagney)
• Looney Tunes Short Yankee Doodle Daffy
• Theatrical Trailer
• Audio Vault
  • You Remind Me of My Mother (Outtake)
  • You’re a Grand Old Flag (Cagney Rehearsal)
  • Give My Regards to Broadway (Cagney Rehearsal)
  • Four Cohans Medley (Vocal with Piano)
  • Harrigan (Vocal with Piano)
  • Lady Esther Screen Guild Theater Radio Show (10/19/1942)
• Song Selection

DIRECTOR: Michael Curtiz
SCREENWRITERS: Robert Buckner and Edmund Joseph
CAST: James Cagney, with Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Richard Whorf, Irene Manning, George Tobias, Rosemary DeCamp, Jeanne Cagney, Frances Langford, George Barbier, S.Z. Sakall, Walter Catlett, Douglas Croft, Minor Watson, Eddie Foy Jr.

White Heat

Synopsis

Gang leader Cody Jarrett (James Cagney) lives for his mother, planning heists between horrible headaches. During a train robbery that goes wrong, Cody shoots an investigator. Realizing Cody will never be stopped if he knows he’s being pursued, authorities plant undercover agent Hank (Edmond O’Brien) in Cody’s cell. When his mother dies, a distraught Cody breaks out of jail, bringing Hank along to join his gang. With Hank in communication with the police, Cody plans a payroll heist.

Bonus Features

• Commentary with Dr. Drew Casper
• Warner Night at the Movies 1949
  • Introduction by Leonard Maltin
  • The Fountainhead Theatrical Trailer
  • Newsreel
  • Short: So You Think You’re Not Guilty
  • Cartoon: Homeless Hare
• Short Feature: White Heat: Top of the World

Theatrical Trailer
DIRECTOR: Raoul Walsh
SCREENWRITERS: Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts
CAST: James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O’Brien, Margaret Wycherly, Steve Cochran, John Archer, Wally Cassell, Fred Clark

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