I had a little difficulty understanding why James Cagney was chosen for this film. However, what I found on the IMDb website was pretty much all of his brands and everything he was successful at, which was a lot. Cagney had appeared in several major and small roles throughout his career. IMDb states that its specific trademarks were "a small but agile frame, a quick, unmistakable voice, a wisecracking New York persona, and a compelling intensity" (IMDb.com). They also state that "Famous for his gangster roles he played in the 1930s and 1940s (which made his only Oscar win as musical composer/dancer/actor George M. Cohan the most ironic). » (IMDb.com). I think this is a very important mark because it shows that Cagney was at his peak and very successful throughout the 1930s and 1940s. That being said, Cagney had the lead role in "You, John Jones!”, produced in 1943. James Cagney must have done very well in everything else he starred in, besides winning his award. only Oscar during this period to be the best candidate for this