James Cagney

Pyramid Illustrated History of the Movies

by Andrew Bergman

The Pyramid Illustrated History of the Movies is a series of volumes that offers a comprehensive overview and brings a fresh perspective to the influential figures, forms, and styles in the development of motion pictures. Each lavishly illustrated volume has been designed to stimulate the interest of the student for whom film is an art, and to stir the memories of the fan for whom "going to the movies" will always be an exhilarating experience. -- Ruthless gangster, cocky hero, or nimble song and dance man, James Cagney was an irresistible force in movies for thirty years. From The Public Enemy to White Heat, from Yankee Doodle Dandy to One, Two, Three, his dynamic, vigorous performances made the screen leap to life. In his profusely illustrated book, Andrew Bergman covers Cagney's long career and evaluates the over sixty films that left their indelible mark on the history of motion pictures.

Genres: Biography

156 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Andrew Bergman is a successful comedy screenwriter and occasional author of hard-boiled mysteries. After receiving a Ph.D. in American history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bergman sold Tex X, a novella about a black sheriff in the old west, to Warner Brothers. The studio hired him to turn his story into a screenplay, as part of a team of comedy legends led by Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor. The result was Blazing Saddles (1974), which is widely regarded as one of the funniest films of all time.

After that early success, Bergman published the first two novels in a mystery series starring Jack LeVine, a hard-boiled Jewish PI. After The Big Kiss-Off of 1944 (1974) and Hollywood and LeVine (1975), he continued writing and directing films, producing such classics as Fletch (1985), The Freshman (1990) and Soapdish (1991). In 2001 he returned to LeVine in Tender Is LeVine. Bergman continues to live and write in New York City.

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/23/2015 Since I had some traveling to do, I needed a small book to carry. I am enjoying the timeline Bergman presents in this book, and the photos, but I heartily disagree with his opinion of THE ROARING TWENTIES. If you read this book make sure you're confident enough to have your own opinions.