Never Steal Anything Small

Screen legend James Cagney (Love Me or Leave Me, White Heat), in his final musical performance, plays a lovable, larcenous longshoreman in this rapid-fire, song-filled spoof of union politics. Cagney sings and dances his way to the top of the heap as Jake MacIllaney, a combination Yankee Doodle Dandy and Robin Hood, who empties company and union coffers alike to become president of the stevedore’s union. The sly MacIllaney also has his eye on his lawyer’s beautiful wife (Shirley Jones, Elmer Gantry, The Music Man) and reaches into his bag of tricks to win her over. This lively satire with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson and choreography by Hermes Pan remains a must-see for Cagney fans. Directed by veteran Hollywood screenwriter Charles Lederer (Fingers at the Window) and co-starring Roger Smith (TV’s 77 Sunset Strip), Cara Williams (Boomerang), Nehemiah Persoff (Day of the Outlaw), Royal Dano (Man of the West) and Anthony Caruso (Fort Massacre).