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Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.
All Critics (2) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (0)
Influential film glorifies government agents, not gangsters.
Jimmy Cagney is just as touch, reckless and compelling as an FBI agent as he is as a gangster in tis fast-moving Warner feature which was embraced by J. Edgar Hoover
You could easily write this off as being a piece of propaganda/an FBI recruitment film, which is basically is. But it's also just a straight forward, traditional, albeit formulaic ansd predictable crime caper following the exploits of federal agents, or G Men as they strive to bring the major criminals across the country to justice. It's an enjoyable film, sure, but I wouldn't really call it all that great or distinguished. It's not bad, but I don't think it's all that special either. It does feature James Cagney playing a good guy for once, which is cool, but as I said, this is a very typical genre film. The performances are decent though, especially Cagney, and there's a decent amount of humor and some faily decent action, too. All in all, an unremarkable film, but still slightly better than average. I don't fully recommend it, but I'm not saying avoid it either.
Super Reviewer
It can easily be argued that G-Men is nothing more than an FBI recruitment movie, which in a sense it is. But is definitely a great one. James Cagney plays a lawyer turned fed whose benefactor is a mobster whose only wish for him is to go straight. There are plenty of seemingly obligatory plot devices in G-Men, Cagney does... well, Cagney and its a must see for any fan of early mobster movies. The thing I noticed was how Michael Mann's Public Enemies ripped off G-Men's night time raid seemingly verbatim. It's done impeccably here but Public Enemies just got that much shittier...
The film is dated but entertaining. Jimmy's on the right side of the law this time and as nimble as ever and the fantastic Ann Dvorak is wonderful in the smaller of the two women's roles. However Margaret Lindsay is terrible and arch as the female lead.
Pretty descent gangster film about the birth of the FBI. Cagney chews some scenery and has a few great moments too.
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