G-Men (Warner Bros.) (1935)

First National Drama | Government’s War on Once again First National done an infinite amount of good by making America take real pride in its fighting forces. ii Now, First National Pictures again utilizes that dynamic young star to tell the first story ever screened of the Department of Justice agents’ war on organized crime. This exciting, thrilling, yet intensely gripping drama, ‘‘G Men’’ had its local premiere yesterday at the Theatre. It is a tremendous picture, and should certainly be of inestimable value in rallying public opinion to the support of the G Men — which is the term applied to Department of Justice operatives. The story, written by Gregory Rogers, was based on headlines that have screamed across the first pages of the nation’s newspapers for the past three years, and many of the incidents are recognizable to everyone, although neither the correct names or localities are used. ‘*G Men’’ is more than a thrilling melodrama — it is history as re-enacted for the screen. James Cagney is the Department of Justice agent around whom most of the action evolves. He it is who traps the Mad Dog of the Gangs, the killer whom no jail could hold, and exterminates him in a rendezvous with death. In and out of the underworld, these G Men roam — dying and taking life, that civilized society might live safely. Cagney has never given a better characterization, nor one that gained for him a great amount of audience sympathy. He is good, too, in the lighter side of the picture as well as in a romance with Margaret Lindsay who portrays the role of the sister of Cagney’s boss, a part played by Robert Armstrong. Ann Dvorak, who also has a leading role as the wife of Public Enemy No. 1, has another opportunity to sing and dance. She leads a chorus of dancing beauties in a night club scene and her song, especially written by the famous song writing team of Fain and Kahal, will probably be one of the season’s hig hits. : Others in the cast who deserve ; commendation are Barton MacLane, purpose of providing fine entertainment, and at the same time rendering patriotic service by showing, on the screen, a vivid story of a branch of the United States Government. In ‘‘Here Comes the Navy,’’ and again in ‘‘Devil Dogs of the Air,’’ James Cagney was t Crime Makes Thrilling Pictures has combined the dual he star of pictures that have Edward Pawley, Noel Madison, Monte Blue, Regis Toomey, Harold Huber, Addison Richards and Raymond Hatton. William Keighley did an exceptional job of directing from the screen play by Seton I. Miller. Cagney K.O.’s Armstrong In Film Battle Robert Armstrong suffered a swollen jaw as a result of Director William Keighley’s demand for realism in the First National picture “G Men,” which comes to the Theatre on After several takes had been made of a sequence depicting James Cagney, star of the picture, knocking Armstrong down in a boxing match and Keighley had expressed dissatisfaction with each, Armstrong drew Cagney aside. “Never mind pulling those punches, Jimmy,” he suggested. They went at it again, but this time Cagney let go and Armstrong hit the mat a terrific wallop a split second after the Irish actor’s gloved fist had connected with his chin. He took the count. After the scene had been taken from half a dozen different angles, Armstrong’s jaw took on a rosy hue. The next day he looked like a man with a toothache. Fortunately, however, Armstrong | was not needed for any scenes for | the balance of the week, in which he recovered. William Harrigan, Russell Hopton, | “G Men” is the story dealing with America’s ruthless war against organized erime and is based on newspaper headlines. There is an all star cast which includes besides Cagney and Armstrong, Margaret Lindsay, Ann Dvorak, Barton MacLane, Lloyd Nolan, William Harrigan, Russell Hopton and Edward Pawley. The sereen play is by Seton I. Miller, based on the story by Gregory Rogers. FREAK FACTS... . As0U7 AM FAVORITES MACLANE SAYS HIS PARENTS HAVE GELIEVEO IN SANTA CLAUS SIMCE HS ARRIVAL IN COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA, ON DECEMBER 25%, 1902 These stars are featured in ‘G-Men’ now at the Mat No. 4—20c BROADWAY SHOW AT FIVE WHEN SHE STUMBLED ONTO THE STAGE FROM THE DRESSING ROOM,WHERE HER MOTHER, A MUSICAL COMEDY STAR, HAO LEFT HER ASLEEP. JANES GAGNRY ‘ | --SAYS HE DOESNT BELIEVE | IN FORTUNE-TELLERS BUT CAN T RESIST LISTENING TO THEIR PREDICTIONS! WAS PREVENTED FROM PLAYING A PART IN-G MEN” SEN FOR, IS MINUTES \ BECAUSE OF A BIRD WHICH i} HAD FLOWN ONTO THE SET. A SHOTGUN @EfoRT SCARED (T Away, Sen cee: Theatre. DAILY PUBLICITY Cagney In Fans Want CAGNEY SCORES SMASH HIT IN "G.Mgy $$ Strand Audience Thrilled By First | Picture Of Federal Agents’ Exploits New Musical Shortly after James Cagney’s assignment to the role of a government agent in the First National picture ‘‘G Men’’ which comes to ee Teenire Ol <.............. F a flood of fan mail urged him to continue on the ‘‘right side of the law.’’ Then came a petition from a group of San Francisco citizens pleading that he be permitted to star in another musical such as ‘¢Footlight Parade.’’ The petition, signed by 485 names and directed to production executives of the studio, read: ‘“We, the undersigned, having enjoyed the marvelous performance of James Cagney in ‘‘Footlight Parade’’ have been eagerly looking forward to seeing him starred in another musical, in which he sings and dances.’’ Cagney frankly stated he would like to do another musical, one which he would be given an opportunity really to display his vocal and terpsichorean talents. The ‘‘tough guy’’ of cinemaland is an accomplished ‘‘hoofer,’’ having graduated to the legitimate stage from the ranks of the chorus. Cagney is cast as a Federal agent in ‘‘G Men,’’ his current picture. His supporting cast includes Ann production. Shakespearean Role Hard to Overcome Jimmy Cagney discovered it was a long jump from StratfordOn-Avon to the United States Department of Justice. Cagney after more than three months in a role of ‘‘Bottom’’ in the Shakespearean fantasy, ‘*A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’’ went to work in the First National production ‘‘G Men.’’ Shakespeare’s lines apparently had gotten a firm grip on Cagney and he constantly muffed the rapid-fire language of his new role. **T can’t even read every day English any more,’’ he said. **G Men’? is a thrilling tale of the United States government agents who risk their lives in running down criminals. William Keighley directed the picture. Actor Hurt By Firing of Bullets Barton MacLane, the screen heavy cast as Public Enemy No. 1, in the First National production “G Men,” which comes to the Theatre on ..................., was cut on the neck during the filming of a scene depicting him escaping from federal agents led by James Cagney. When MacLane leaped into an automobile to make his hail of real bullets was sent through the windshield by firearms experts George Daly and Fred Davis in simulation of an attack by the government men. A shower of glass sprayed MacLane, cutting his neck in several places. work after treatment at the studio hospital. _ “G Men” is the story of America’s grim and ruthless attempt to extirpate the menace of organized crime from its society. There is an all star cast headed by Jimmy Cagney and includes Margaret Lindsay, Ann Dvorak, Robert Armstrong, MacLane, Lloyd Nolan, William Harrigan, Russell Hopton and Edward Pawley. William Keighley directed the picture from the screen play by Seton I. Miller, based on the story by Gregory Rogers. Artists sometimes see differently ere’s one artist’s conception of J Dvorak, Margaret Lindsay, Robert | No. 1 bad man, has become the ace hunter Armstrong, Barton MacLane, Rus-| 4rama based on the exploits of the Department of Justice, now show. sell Hopton, Edward Pawley, and William Harrigan. William Keighley directed the ing at the Mat No. than does the eye of the camen, ames Cagney, who from the screen's of crooks in “G Mes,” eatre, 12—20¢ Cagney is Taught *G-Men’ Tricks by Technical Expert The business of learning United States Department of | the First National production Theatre on in “G Men,” he envisioned himself as taking up the part as the fullfledged agent of the Federal gov/ernment. But he guessed wrong — |very wrong, as he quickly discovered. The earlier sequences of this original screen play by Gregory Rogers, deal with the six months training period through which rookies go before emerging as qualified “G Men.” The first day Cagney appeared on the set, Director William Keighley introduced him to Frank Gompert, head of the criminological laboratory of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office, who acted as technical director on the picture. Gompert took Cagney in tow. The two of them passed through a door labeled “Bureau of Investigation — United States Department of Justice.” They strolled down a long corridor, turned through another door bearing the legend “Fingerprinting Department.” “This,” said Gompert, pointing escape, a|to a long machine, waist high and paralleling one wall, “is what we eall a selector machine. New Crook Detector “Virtually all criminals,” Gompert continued, “have certain telltale methods which distinguish He was able to return to| their work from others. Some rob bers, for instance, prefer to enter a home by the way of a kitchen window. They will work only between certain hours. “Now, suppose a house had been burglarized sometime between the hours of midnight and two a. m. The modern criminologist simply goes to his card index file, where all known criminals, including burglars, are listed. “He removes his burglar file and takes the cards to his selector machine, sets the time indicator to register between midnight and 2 a. m. and inserts the cards in one end of the apparatus, which the tricks of an agent of the Justice is not as simple a it might sound, according to James Cagney, who is playing in ‘“G@ Men,’’ which comes to the ““G Men”’ is a term used to designate government agents When Cagney was assigned to the role of ‘Brick Dams selects, by means of holes punched in the cards, all those ban who generally work between thm hours. ; “Next your modern eriminolgs sets his selector to ‘method’ sl | all cards punched ‘kitchen oe drop out. And s0 on. Wher is finished with — — requires approximately hes eae his search to pe ‘haps ten or twelve known era nals. One of them is pretty os tain of being the man he Ww Have Plenty to Leam “And this,” — contis indicating a box-like | next to the selector, “is 4 coe parator. With it and rs and magnifying lenses, ory ern criminologist et one-fiftieth the time ho’ required with the 2 o whether or not a ye ae files and one left om ¢ of a crime are one an@ From the finger . ment the instructio the ballistics laboratory © to the filing depart many thousand sets . + Ot had been gath-ved Yan National property — a ended on the daar ‘ot Cagney benefit of the camera, a” by the L fice throu ; Eugene Biscailu7. “G Men” is @ the United states Fis agents who risk the There #2 ning down eriminé inelodl ie all star cast a Lisi sides Cagney, ee arate M Ro Ann Dvorak Lane, gaward : Fy Barton Mac! William Harriga®, sal Russell Hoptom