VividSimon Simply Perfect

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Tymon Sutton The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

dougdoepke Unusual Cagney entry. He's promoted to head of city Weights and Measures after the former head is roughed up by corrupt city government. Now I've seen a ton of old movies, but this is the first to deal W and M. Still, there's a lot of material for a crime movie. After all, that bureau is supposed to make sure consumers get what they pay for. The movie's first part deals with the various scams retailers could use then (1930's) to cheat customers. Cagney's Johnny Cave proves a zealously honest enforcer, bringing him into conflict with the mayor and other higher-ups. Their points of conflict form most of the narrative.At this point in his career, Cagney had left Warner Bros. to free lance. In terms of prestige, the production outfit (Zion Meyers) appears a come-down for the actor. But you'd never know it. He's a one-man show, happily supported by a colorful cast of mugs and icy politicos. Plus, Mae (grapefruit in the face) Clarke teams up again, this time as an eye-catching brunette. Then too, I like the interspersed colorful touches, like the fat guy in the cafeteria line who keeps hi-jacking Cave's food. Or Cave's digs at Janet's (Clarke) lumpy hat. Watch quickly for handsome leading-man-to-be Robert Lowery as one of the ballroom dancers. My only gripe is the fist-fight that's both exaggerated and unnecessary to the plot. I suspect that was to work in a big action scene.All in all, it's a lesser known Cagney feature from the 30's. But the tough guy's still in fine Cagney form. At the same time, the script's concern with consumer protection from scheming merchants and politicos seems almost contemporary. Technology may have changed, but some things don't.

Rainey Dawn James Cagney is Johnny Cave, a man who's given a job as head of the Bureau of Weights and Measures due to his boss being hospitalized.As usual Cagney is our "tough guy" - this time one of the good guys out to get those that run a scam by cheating people out of product and money: like adding lead weights inside whole chickens, adding weight to strawberry baskets, not giving them all their sugar in a bag nor all the gas they've paid for (example: if you pay for 5 gallons of gas you will only get 4 gallons) -- Cagney will bust them and is after the big man at the top of the scamming ring making all the dough.It's not a bad film - it's just kinda weird but enjoyable in it's way.5/10

Tweekums This lesser known Cagney film sees him playing the deputy chief of New York's Weights and Measures department, Johnny Cave, although he is acting chief as his boss has been put in hospital for going after the 'wrong' people. The people he is after are ripping off people for a few cents in every transaction; it may not seem like much but in a city the size of New York all those 'few cents' add up to an awful lot of dollars and some of the city's highest officials are up to their necks in it. He is particularly interested in Abel Canning; a city alderman who just happens to be his girlfriend's boss.While this isn't one of Cagney's better known films it isn't bad and even though he is on the right side of the law this time he is still the familiar tough guy. The idea of having a film about somebody working for the Department of Weights and Measures doesn't sound too thrilling but in reality it just means he is a cop by another name. The story is solid enough and although there are no real surprises along the way it is still enjoyable. Cagney puts in a decent performance as Cave and Mae Clarke is good enough as his love interest although the character is a bit underwritten. Some lightness is added to the proceedings by Cave's new partner, Irishman Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley… a character who has clearly kissed the Blarney Stone given his gift of the gab! Overall this may not be a classic but fans of Cagney and '30s crime dramas should enjoy it.

loza-1 We have films about cops, private detectives, district attorneys, defence lawyers; now here's one about a man who works for the weights and measures - an important job overlooked by cinema. But it's exciting, since the task of getting a square deal for the public inevitably puts the protagonist up against organised crime.Nowadays film-goers would see the "one honest man" crushed by the crooked system he is fighting against. He's setting up home with the girl he loves. He needs the job, and is being pressurised by a crooked politician. But here Cagney - as good with his fists as he is with his mouth - wins through in the end. It lacks the tension of the modern thriller, but these are more sophisticated times. Nevertheless,this is a delightful film.