Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

"The Strawberry Blonde" is a comedy-romance that takes place in the Gay Nineties, which for most of the American population weren't all that carefree and happy. But this film, and the James Hagan play it was based on, focus more on the daily lives of city dwellers and the mores of that time. The Epstein brothers (Julius and Philip) wrote the screenplay for this 1941 film, no doubt explicitly to fit James Cagney's persona.The title is from a line in the 1895 popular tune, "The Band Played On," by John F. Palmer (lyrics) and Charles B. Ward (music). And the song is a constant prop or background for the movie. We see and hear it sung by a barbershop quartet, played by a marching band, and played by an orchestra at a dance. It takes on an almost haunting presence as we hear it in the background coming from a radio, or from a street band outdoors, or in the park. Indeed, it is inextricably woven into plot.It is a catchy tune and it serves nicely as a thread that ties together the lives of its four main characters. They are Biff Grimes (James Cagney), Amy Lind (Olivia de Havilland), Virginia Brush (Rita Hayworth), and Hugo Barnstead (Jack Carson). A fine supporting cast includes George Tobias, Alan Hale, Una O'Connor, and George Reeves. All performances are excellent.Other reviewers have noted the off-character nature of Cagney's role. Unlike his hard-bitten persona of the crime and gangster movies that made him a star, here Cagney shows a softer side, albeit still brash and rough around the edges. But he's also more real and takes as many punches and defeats as he hands out.Olivia de Havilland has a role in which we can see the diverse range and abilities of this fine actress. She is one of the greatest actresses in emoting with her face – her eyes, mouth and facial expressions. One of the funniest scenes in this film is in the park when Amy feigns a modern attitude with Biff. She winks, gives the look and strikes a rebellious pose – all of this to do about women coming out and kissing a man, smoking cigarettes, etc. Biff is shocked and shows it. I'm chuckling now as I write this with the scene in my mind.Later, after some things have changed, Biff tosses caution to the wind and says he is ready to live such a loose life with her, and Amy is shocked and frightened. They talk it out, and we just enjoy the comedy of how difficult courting must have been when people were proper and decent in the Gay Nineties.Rita Hayworth is the strawberry blonde, Virginia Brush. She is all sweetness, but underneath that façade is a woman whom probably no man will be able to satisfy. Especially Jack Carson as Hugo Barnstead who thinks he was won the prize by marrying her. Hugo epitomizes a type of character that seemed to flourish for a time in Eastern America – the guy who got rich feeding at the public trough and bilking the public in the process. But, he has taken care that he won't pay for his crimes, and Biff becomes his scapegoat. Carson was an excellent actor and had some fine bigger than life supporting roles in his career. This is one of them.The happy ending in all of this is when Biff and Amy marry after he spends a few years in prison for Hugo's graft. He has studied to become a dentist and has set up a practice in his home. He has a chance to get even when Hugo comes to have a tooth pulled, not knowing that Biff is the dentist. After inflicting the usual pain of pulling a tooth without gas, Biff sees that Hugo and Virginia are miserable together. He and Amy were the right match all along, and their happiness was genuine, based on love.This is an entertaining film in which some fine performers display their diverse talents. And, we get a humorous look at a time past with a nostalgic – if not completely accurate, portrayal of the society and mores of that age.

I originally watched this movie just for James Cagney, but recently looked at it again. I was interested in the period setting as much as anything, but I discovered this was a movie that I enjoyed more with each viewing.Although the dialog may be corny and simplistic in places, this is a well written story that holds up over time. All the principal actors are great. You can see why they were movie stars--you can't take your eyes off of any of them. The progression over the years of the relationships between the four of them makes up the bulk of the action, and it is fun to watch these two couples. Things never get too heavy, even when terrible things continue to happen. The ending is one of the more satisfying resolutions to any film I've enjoyed. And again, I really like the turn of the century small town America setting. The only element I wasn't really into was the deadbeat dad subplot.The fact that it was directed by the same guy who did White Heat makes you realize how much talent was at work here.

Who would had ever known that Raoul Walsh was also capable of making, fun, sweet, charming movies such as this one.It's a real irresistible movie, with a solid great and also quite original love-story, supported and uplifted even more by its great cast. It's the sort of story that sort of has it all; romance, drama and comedy. What I like about the movie is that it has all of the generic required elements but yet is non-formulaic. For instance the lead doesn't get the girl he wanted most and the leading lady has her own very free mind and will, especially for those days of course. The movie has several dramatic themes in it, as well as a sort of message in the end but above all the movie is a really fun one to watch. It has some great subtle comedy and I'm sure you'll discover new little subtle comedy elements in the movie each time you'll see it.James Cagney doesn't seem like the most likely choice for the leading role in a romantic movie. He was often type-casted as tough guys and he of course most certainly also did not had the right looks to play in a movie such as this one. But perhaps of that very same reason his character works out so well in the movie. It makes the story all the more believable and cuter, knowing that the main character isn't the prettiest or cutest boy on the block. On top of that, James Cagney was of course also a great actor, that could time well, which helps him in the more comical moments in the movie. The movie also has an impressive female cast with both Olivia de Havilland and Rita Hayworth. Two of THE leading ladies of the '40's. But also Alan Hale, Jack Carson and George Reeves where no unknowns.By todays standards the sets and background of the movie are all cheap and of course fake looking but this always has been sort of part of the charm of '40's movies. The musical score by Heinz Roemheld was surprisingly great (also Oscar nominated). I wish it was more present in the movie.A really recommendable movie.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Cagney departs from his tough, street smart persona to play the gullible, not so tough Biff Grimes. Notice how he loses fight after fight; in one scene he's a barroom bouncer tossing his drunken father out asking his father not to put up too much of a fight "I'm supposed to be a tough guy".He gets suckered time after time by Hugo and Virginia. That wouldn't have happened to other Cagney characters! His best scenes are with Olivia DeHavilland. What chemistry. Sometimes no dialog, just glances.The main characters play off each other phenomenally. Even the minor characters are superb. Who was that fat German who blew beer foam into Cagney's face? He was great! The period music is so woven into the story that the movie almost becomes a musical. The lovely theme that's played whenever Olivia DeHavilland come into the scene is "When You Were Sweet Sixteen". Unlike the title song "Strawberry Blonde", it's never sung in the movie but it was popular at the turn of the century. Perry Como made it one of his hits in the early 1940's.The movie is such a nostalgic, funny, (sad at times) look back at the turn of the century that you wish you could go back there with them.It's amazing that director Raoul Walsh also made the brilliant, violent, cynical "White Heat" with nary a sentimental, lovable character.