Johnny Come Lately (1943)
- Starring:
- James Cagney, Grace George, (more)
- Director(s):
- William Howard
Synopsis of Johnny Come Lately
For his first independently-produced starring effort, James Cagney chose the sentimental drama Johnny Come Lately. Cagney plays itinerant newspaperman Tom Richards, who wanders into a small corruption-ridden town. Striking up a friendship with elderly Vinnie McLeod (Grace George in her only movie appearance), the editor of the local newspaper, Tom tries to help Vinnie exposed the community's crooked politicians. He is thwarted in his efforts until Gashouse Mary (Marjorie Main), a wealthy dowager with a shady past, exposes the machinations behind a phony Orphan's Fund. At the insistence of star Cagney, the cast of Johnny Come Lately was filled with familiar character actors (Hattie McDaniel, Edward McNamara, George Cleveland, Margaret Hamilton, Lucien Littlefield) who are herein offered a lot more screen time than was customary. Based on the Louis Bromfield novel McLeod's Folly, Johnny Come Lately was produced by Cagney's brother William; the film garnered an Oscar nomination for Leigh Harline's nostalgic musical score. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Complete Cast of Johnny Come Lately
- James Cagney - Tom Richards
- Marjorie Main - Gashouse Mary
- Hattie McDaniel - Aida
- Robert H. Barrat - Bill Swain
- Margaret Hamilton - Myrtle Ferguson
- Lucien Littlefield - Blaker
- Irving Bacon - Chief of Police
- Charles Irwin - Second Cop
- Clarence Muse - Dougherty's Butler
- Victor Kilian - Tramp in Box Car
- William Henry - Pete Dougherty
- Joseph Crehan - Judge Flynn
- Alec Craig - Court Bailiff
- Grace George - Vinnie McLeod
- Marjorie Lord - Jane
- Edward McNamara - W.M. Dougherty
- George Cleveland - Willie Ferguson
- Norman Willis - Dudley Hirsh
- Edwin Stanley - Winterbottom
- Tom Dugan - First Cop
- John Sheehan - Third Cop
- Arthur Hunnicutt - Second Tramp
- Wee Willie Davis - Bouncer
- Henry Hall - Old Timer
- John Miller - First Tramp
- Director(s):
- William Howard
- Writer(s):
- John van Druten
- Producer(s):
- William Cagney
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