Classic Film Guide

Jimmy the Gent (1934)

Directed by Michael Curtiz (Casablanca (1942)), with a story co-written by Ray Nazarro (Bullfighter and the Lady (1951)), this comedy-drama features the first pairing of James Cagney (Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)) and Bette Davis, one year before she would win her Best Actress Oscar for Dangerous (1935), though this is decidedly a "lightweight" role. Cagney, in the title role, plays a two-bit operator who finds phony descendants for rich people who die without any real heirs. Davis plays his secretary-love interest who gets fed up with his dishonesty and joins one of his competitor's firms. Allen Jenkins plays one of Cagney's partners (as usual) in crime. When Cagney discovers the upscale nature of his competitor's operation, he makes his even swankier and then sets out to unmask the fraudulent nature of his rival for Davis's affections. Noted character actor Hobart Cavanaugh also appears.

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