Terrible Joe Moran

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.

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.

This film has been bugging me for years. I've occasionally asked around about it but noone ever knew what I was talking about. I remember sitting in front of the t.v. some twenty years ago and seeing this as like a "movie of the week". Jimmy Cagney is so old and feeble in it that he can not even emote enough for the microphones to pick him up.THE DIALOGUE OF CAGNEY'S CHARACTER IS ENTIRELY DUBBED IN BY A BAD IMPERSONATOR1 I don't beleive that noone has commented on that after seeing this film . I'm sure this is the same movie although I only saw it briefly 20 years ago as a teenager. The dubbing bit was so obvious and bad that it sticks out in my mind. I think Cagney was a bit past his prime in this one (25 years past), I loved his movies but he should have been home sipping tea for this one.

A throughly bad film. One of the worst films I have ever seen. James Cagney should have let "Ragtime" be his "swan song"

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.