Jimmy Cagney and his real life brother bankrolled this movie believing it to be a winner. With Horace McCoy as the writer and Gordon Douglas as the director, this film could go nowhere but up. The movie begins with a Cagney special, a shoot-em-up a Prison break. His name when the movie begins is Ralph Cotter (James Cagney) an escape murderer who with his friend's sister (Barbara Payton) make their get-a-way and immediately land right back into trouble. With a score of quick hold-ups they begin with minor success, when they run smack in to two Dirty cops (Ward Bond) and Lt. John Reece (Barton MacLane) who shake them down for a percentage of their loot. With the cops in tow, they join a scheming lawyer who in turn introduces Cotter to high society and a rich man's daughter. In between hold-ups. love-scenes, mayhem and extortions Cotter gets to dreaming of making it big. Were it not for his ambivalence towards good advice, he stands to lose everything. The movie is in Black and White and displays Cagney at his troublesome best. Fine cast members help to shore-up the movie. Members like William Frawley, Kenneth Tobey, Neville Brand and and Steve Brodie as Joe 'Jinx' Raynon. The movie is easy to follow, though a bit melodramatic, but it has a final scene where Cagney does what he does best, , , ,entertain. ****