Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Unusual Cagney entry. He's promoted to head of city Weights and Measures after the former head is roughed up by corrupt city government. Now I've seen a ton of old movies, but this is the first to deal W and M. Still, there's a lot of material for a crime movie. After all, that bureau is supposed to make sure consumers get what they pay for. The movie's first part deals with the various scams retailers could use then (1930's) to cheat customers. Cagney's Johnny Cave proves a zealously honest enforcer, bringing him into conflict with the mayor and other higher-ups. Their points of conflict form most of the narrative.At this point in his career, Cagney had left Warner Bros. to free lance. In terms of prestige, the production outfit (Zion Meyers) appears a come-down for the actor. But you'd never know it. He's a one-man show, happily supported by a colorful cast of mugs and icy politicos. Plus, Mae (grapefruit in the face) Clarke teams up again, this time as an eye-catching brunette. Then too, I like the interspersed colorful touches, like the fat guy in the cafeteria line who keeps hi-jacking Cave's food. Or Cave's digs at Janet's (Clarke) lumpy hat. Watch quickly for handsome leading-man-to-be Robert Lowery as one of the ballroom dancers. My only gripe is the fist-fight that's both exaggerated and unnecessary to the plot. I suspect that was to work in a big action scene.All in all, it's a lesser known Cagney feature from the 30's. But the tough guy's still in fine Cagney form. At the same time, the script's concern with consumer protection from scheming merchants and politicos seems almost contemporary. Technology may have changed, but some things don't.

As much as I hate to say it, I found this movie to be painfully boring.It felt like I was just going through the motions & I only seemed to be watching it because it was there.I definitely know if it wasn't for James Cagney being in it, I wouldn't have watched Great Guy at all.I noticed a few times I'd leave the room & forget to hit the pause button.After awhile that got annoying.I really wanted to skip it & go watch something else.As much as I hoped to like this movie, I just didn't't.If you're a die hard fan of James Cagney then you'll probably want to take a look at it but if you're not then I'd suggest skipping Great Guy & finding another Cagney movie to watch.There are a ton of James Cagney movies out there that are a million times better then this one

I found this an extremely satisfying movie. Well-plotted, Cagney has integrity and won't buckle to corrupt businesspeople or civic officials and can't be bought off. It's not a big movie, but it's a notable movie for upholding the importance of retaining one's integrity. Too often audiences become jaded and criticize the pacing or some minor plot weakness but in this film Cagney doesn't sell out and it seems to me that that is more important than any minor oversight in the creation of the film. I found this movie very very enjoyable and satisfying. Just a great little movie and folks might say it's simplistic or Cagney is just being a tough, but the point is, the man cannot be bought and that's a value that, if you hold on to, cannot be taken from you.

We have films about cops, private detectives, district attorneys, defence lawyers; now here's one about a man who works for the weights and measures - an important job overlooked by cinema. But it's exciting, since the task of getting a square deal for the public inevitably puts the protagonist up against organised crime.Nowadays film-goers would see the "one honest man" crushed by the crooked system he is fighting against. He's setting up home with the girl he loves. He needs the job, and is being pressurised by a crooked politician. But here Cagney - as good with his fists as he is with his mouth - wins through in the end. It lacks the tension of the modern thriller, but these are more sophisticated times. Nevertheless,this is a delightful film.