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White Heat

Play trailer Poster for White Heat 1949 1h 54m Crime Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 83 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
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.
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White Heat

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Critics Consensus

Raoul Walsh's crime drama goes further into the psychology of a gangster than most fear to tread and James Cagney's portrayal of the tragic anti-hero is constantly volatile.

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Critics Reviews

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Marjory Adams Boston Globe 04/23/2024
James Cagney gives an astounding, realistic, terrific portrayal of a gangster as menacing and as ruthless as any ever played on the screen as the star of White Heat. Go to Full Review Kate Cameron New York Daily News 04/23/2024
3.5/4
White Heat, made by Warners, under Raoul Walsh's direction and suggested by a Virginia Kellogg story, is a highly exciting cops and robbers melodrama. One scene of violence follows another, until the thrilling climax. Go to Full Review Mae Tinee Chicago Tribune 04/23/2024
Here's a taut crime melodrama, with punch and pace, which is very, likely to start a whole new cycle of such pictures... it looks like Director Raoul Walsh and the practiced Mr. Cagney have put the public enemy back in business again. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jul 28
4/4
James Cagney delivers his best performance this side of his Oscar-winning work in Yankee Doodle Dandy. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Jul 22
4/5
James Cagney’s turn is a Nicholsonian rip-roarer in which you can clock his mania down to the millisecond, and all of the sophisticated character work is complemented by a delightfully & densely plotted narrative that holds up by contemporary standards. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 11/16/2024
... it’s absolutely ferocious and Cagney gives a blindingly unhinged performance as an emotionally unstable and mentally unbalanced Jarrett, putting his dancer’s moves to work in a riveting physical performance. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Orin D Jan 20 No less an authority than Orson Welles called Cagney "The most talented actor that ever stepped in front of a camera" (a paraphrase). Cagney's range from George M. Cohan in "Born on the 4th of July" to the gangster w/ a heart of gold Rocky Sullivan in "Angels With Dirty Faces" to the psychopathic Cody Jarret here in "White Heat" is breathtaking. Costars Mayo & Edmond O'Brien as the undercover copper & Magaret Wycherly as Ma Jarret are all excellent &Walsh is considered a "pantheon" director for good reason. This is a must see flick. It certainly numbers among my favorites one I will periodically return to watch again. "Top of the world, Ma!" See more Mickey B. @Mickerdoo Jan 18 Classic crime crew heist and lockup. Cagney plays a good homicidal wacko. Enjoyed Archer as the treasury agent. Love fedora era cops. See more Cody J Sep 27 Widely regarded as one of the best noirs, it's my personal favorite. The first time I watched this movie I enjoyed it so much that upon finishing I started it over and watched it a second time. Compelling from beginning to end with Cagney firing on all cylinders. It simply does not get any better than this. See more Kyle M Jul 5 A film noir classic that narratively ripples over its decent heft empathetically handled whilst centrally bolstered by James Cagney’s incredible manic performance. (B+) See more revolver.0 8 @Revolver08 Jun 15 a truly golden standard for this kind of movies See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 10 Success in 1 hour and 54 minutes!!!!!!!!!!! The best cast and crew in black and white-filmed scenes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
White Heat

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Cast & Crew

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Raoul Walsh

Director

James Cagney

Arthur "Cody" Jarrett

Virginia Mayo

Verna Jarrett

Edmond O'Brien

Vic Pardo

Margaret Wycherly

Ma Jarrett

Steve Cochran

Big Ed Somers

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White Heat

White Heat (1949) White Heat (1949) View more photos

Movie Info

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.
Director
Raoul Walsh
Producer
Louis F. Edelman
Screenwriter
Virginia Kellogg, Ivan Goff
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures, Key Video
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Genre
Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 2, 1949, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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