James Cagney is remembered for two main genres of movies. The gangster movie of course and to a much lesser extent, the movie musical. So if you put both genre's together in the form of a gangster themed comedy musical and put James Cagney right in the centre of it, surely it would work right? RIGHT? Well I'm disheartened to say that 1959's Never Steal Anything Small does anything but. However, it may be easier than you think to explain why.
By 1959, the movie musical had fallen very much out of favour. One of Gene Kelly's last big MGM efforts 'It's Always Fair Weather' had opened in drive ins and even the great Fred Astaire, after a run of poor efforts had turned his back on the genre completely. By the time this movie was released James Cagney was 60 years old and whilst he could still be convincing when it came to tough talking and giving out the rough stuff, his great dancing days were behind him and here he looks slow and uncomfortable in the few numbers he has.
To correctly define Never Steal Anyrhing Small, I would say that it wasn't a musical with comedy, it's more a comedy with musical numbers and both elements are lacking anything truly remarkable.
Cagney plays a tough talking dodgy dealing corrupt union boss, who's not beyond breaking the law or a few legs to get things done.
After extorting $10000 for campaign money from a local skinflint, he is arrested and is assigned a young clean cut lawyer to defend him. The lawyer is an idealist and is not exactly enthused to be defending someone he knows is guilty. Cagney received a letter stating that the lawyer is quitting, but Cagney needs him to beat the the extortion rap and goes to his house to convince him to stay.
He discovers that the lawyers wife (Shirley Jones) is the one who convinced her husband to ditch the case. Cagney is smitten with her and sets about an elaborate plan to break the couple up so he can scoop up the girl for himself, going so far as trying to ruin the life of the lawyer by hanging a larceny rap round his neck. (Yes, this is what comedy was in 1959 folks).
Prior to this movie, Cagney had spent the last 30 years playing some complete SOB's, however, and with the obvious exception of Cody Jarrett in White Heat, there was still always something likeable about the characters as Cagney had always said that you can't hate a likeable guy no matter how bad he was. But here, there are no redeemable qualities in his character and he is thoroughly unlikable. So this a extremely RARE Cagney backfire.
The musical numbers aren't that great, the plot uncomfortable and the comedy only occasionally funny.
I find it hard to admit that I am actually giving a James Cagney movie a poor review, but a bad movie is a bad movie regardless of the cast and sometimes even the most enjoyable and consistent stars cannot save it.
It's such a shame that the last movie musical James Cagney ever made was nowhere near as good as his first (Footlight Parade).
