Thursday, 22 July 2021

ALL-TIME CLASSIC MOVIE FAVOURITES – WHITE HEAT (1949)

“White Heat” is a Crime Drama, Screenplay by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts from a Story by Virginia Kellogg and Directed by Raoul Walsh.

 

The central character of the story is Cody Jarrett (James Cagney) who is a sadistic psychopathic criminal and leader of a ruthless gang of thieves.

Cody is a volatile, violent, and eccentric leader, fiercely devoted to his ‘Ma’ (Margaret Wycherly) and afflicted with terrible headaches.

While he is running the gang from in jail Cody's top henchman Big Ed Somers (Steve Cochran) wants to lead the gang and, in cahoots with Cody’s two-faced wife Verna (Virginia Mayo), plots with inmates for Cody to have an accident, but Cody is saved by an undercover cop, Hank Fallon aka Vic Pardo (Edmond O'Brien) who thereby befriends him and infiltrates the gang.

After making a daring break from prison he leads his old gang back on the outside and the stage is set for Cody's ultimate betrayal and downfall, during a big payroll heist at a chemical plant.

The final scene, with the line “Top of the World, Ma!” is one of the most famous in all of film history.

If you like James Cagney and you like 1940 film noir, then it doesn't get any better than this.

WARNING TO DRINKERS # 4

New health warnings should be

On bottles and tins for us to see

Warnings clearly on display

That the consumption of alcohol may

Lead to behaviour quite amusing

And cause you to think that you can sing

I USED TO WORK IN A PLANT

 

I used to work in a plant

Specializing in shoe-recycling

And I hated every minute

It was utterly sole-destroying

THERE ARE MANY PIT FALLS

 

There are many pit falls

In the relationships game

Take same-sex marriage

Where sex is always the same

I HAVE AN UNUSUAL PHOBIA

 

I have an unusual phobia

Which people find strange

I hate new minted coins

But then I dislike all change

DID YOU KNOW THE REASON WHY

 

Did you know the reason why

Unattached women go to Wimbledon

It’s because they were told

There was a men's singles event on

I GET TOGETHER WITH MY GIRLFRIEND

 

I get together with my girlfriend

For some one to one time

Which is why I usually meet

Up with her at 12:59