|
 |
A famous scene from an old classic: James Cagney cruelly shoves a grapefruit into the face of actress Mae Clarke in The Public Enemy (1931). Depending on which story you believe, Cagney either ad-libbed the incident or he and Clarke together decided to incorporate it into the scene. Either way, no one else in the studio expected it!
Tags:
James
Cagney
grapefruit
Public
Enemy
Added: 10th December 2007
Views: 453
Rating: 
Posted By: Lava1964 |
 
|
 |
So many scenes, from so many films are remembered. This is one of the classics that people of a certain age can quote. Not only for the fact that James Cagney was an amazing talent with so many strings too his bow, it was that this scene showed him at his best worst. A bit like, made it ma, top of the world, you feel sorry but also mad at him in one breath.
|
 |
Posted by: Naomi on 2007-12-11
Not exactly Mr Sunshine was he? Maybe he needed some of those little pills from Dr Miles!
|
 |
Actually, the Director, William Wellman, was in a bad marriage. He said, although his wife at the time, I believe she was three of four, was beautiful, he just wanted to....... Well, when he saw that grapefruit in the scene, he directed Cagney to do the famous smush.
source, a 1973 PBS special, recently rebroadcast on TCM, and it is tremendous. That's the story, from Wellman's mouth.
|
 |
I've never heard that version of the story before. Thanks for the input.
|
Add A Comment
Sorry, guests can't post comments!
|
|
Browse Media