Joe Moran, le terrible

I worked at the post-production house in new york city when this film was shot and edited. We saw the dailies of it as it was being shot and also worked on it while it was being edited. The entire film was completed with Cagney's actual (heavily stroke inflected) speaking voice. It was decided by the producers to replace the entire Cagney dialogue with Rich Little's impersonation. I can attest to the fact that the original film, with Cagney's own voice, was an excellent and powerful little film, that I would have given a rating of 10 stars to. Unfortunately, the really bad decision to dub Cagney's voice with this awful impersonation (which sounded like the voice in the old "Vlassic Pickles" TV commercials) pretty much ruined what would have been a memorable movie. I wish to this day I had somehow been able to obtain a copy of the original version! Still worth seeing as it is Cagney's last film, and Carney and Barkin are excellent. Basically though, another instance of too many producer-cooks ruining the stew.

i haven't screened 'terrible Joe yet but plan to in a few minutes. i've had it taped since the original broadcast but forgot about it.was in a cagney mood tonight and decided i better see this in order to complete my cagney history.i was looking forward to it but if virtually every piece of his dialogue is dubbed by a bad impersonator as the other reviewer commented, i'd have to say before viewing it already has to stink! what a bad idea. if you're shooting Jimmy Cagney in his last film it better be all him and if he was too ill to do the job at that time, then shelve the project. and rely on his bull halsey biopic of 1960"the gallant Hours" to be your last great jimmy film and it was the best nonon-action oriented war film ever done i think.if Bull Halsey was much different in appearance or sound from Cagney, i don't want to know about it.

Funny how the Cary Grant "Judy Judy Judy" as well as James Cagney's "You Dirty Rat" became symbols of these legendary actors but neither uttered those words. Instead it was a standup comic's impression, the first being Larry Storch as Grant and the latter Frank Gorshin does Cagney's lines here, and it sounds NOTHING like him. Cagney himself is in such bad health he can hardly even move. RAGTIME was sad enough to see the once dynamic persona going through the motions but this mess should not have been made at all.

Those who think it a tripe and shallow movie are too young to remember when families were real and full of love, truth and morality. Ellen Barkin holds her own with the powerful cast of James Cagney and Art Carney. The film brings back reality of what true love and family means.The comedy and one liners are great.

a reviewer here says the producers had a chance to let the real Cagney voice come through > I hope he meant that SOME of JG's warbling penetrated! geeesh!! another reason for my less than "10" review is that no one apparently thought enough to write in some funny business between Cagney and Carney > something! even if Art did his hesitation bit (signing a document, you remember).

having said all that > we have a fine film here, especially a Made-For-TV movie, back in the days when a good one was not really expected! a good script really counts, as two loners - estranged relatives who battle (one in the ring) and one (with herself and psychologically with her erratic boyfriend)distant - find that two are better than "one!! great location shooting adds to the interest and enjoyment.