Never Steal Anything Small (1959)
- Starring:
- James Cagney, Roger Smith, (more)
- Director(s):
- Charles Lederer
Synopsis of Never Steal Anything Small
Only one of three films directed by screenwriter Charles Lederer, known for movies as disparate as The Thing (1951) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), this crime comedy-drama-musical obviously defies categorization. Mixing James Cagney as a gangster out to control a big union, with musical numbers and cute songs is about like mixing onions and vanilla pudding. Jake MacIllaney (Cagney) wants to be elected president of Longshoreman's union 26 and, being a top mob boss, is used to getting his way. He is not past almost any stunt or method of coercion to get votes. Dan Cabot (Roger Smith) is Jake's lawyer, and after Jake meets Cabot's wife Linda (Shirley Jones), he sets his sights on conquering her affections. Disregard the husband, he can be taken care of. Setting this to music introduces some entertaining songs (I'm Sorry -- I Want a Ferrari) but the seriousness of the mobster's immorality and power is hard to reconcile with a perky tune about not stealing the small stuff. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
Complete Cast of Never Steal Anything Small
- James Cagney - Jake MacIllaney
- Shirley Jones - Linda Cabot
- Nehemiah Persoff - Pinelli
- Anthony Caruso - Lt. Trevis
- Virginia Vincent - Ginger
- Robert J. Wilke - Lennie
- Billy Greene - Ed
- Jack Orrison - Osborne
- Ingrid Goude - Model
- Gregg Barton - Deputy Warden
- Harvey Perry - Detective
- Rebecca Sand - Coffee vendor
- Phyllis Kennedy - Waitress
- Roger Smith - Dan Cabot
- Cara Williams - Winnipeg
- Royal Dano - Words Cannon
- Horace McMahon - O.K. Merritt
- Jack Albertson - Sleep-Out Charlie
- Herbie Faye - Hymie
- John Duke - Ward
- Roland Winters - Doctor
- Skipper McNally - Thomas
- John Halloran - First detective
- Jay Jostyn - Judge
- Eddie Parker - Policeman
- Director(s):
- Charles Lederer
- Writer(s):
- Charles Lederer
- Producer(s):
- Aaron Rosenberg
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