A biography from an interesting perspective. An actor himself, later a college professor, John McCabe was asked to work as the ghost writer for Cagney on Cagney, Jim Cagney autobiography. He formed a strong friendship with the actor and later convinced him that there was more to be said than that contained in his autobio.

Cagney agreed and was very accessible to McCabe in the writing of this biography. At first glance, it could be considered primaily a study on the Cagney films but there are excellent insights into the Cagney family.
They were involved by him in his career and the film business but estranged from his wife, Willie. His wife set up their two adopted children in their own house so that Cagney could focus on his work and rest when the labor was done without their distractions. When you read about his close and sustained relationshps with adults especially his family, his estrangement from his children is hard to understand and a strange flaw in an otherwise admirable man.

Tha latter chapters are very insightful about Cagney, the painter, writer, actor and dancer. He knew he would have to give up dancing and intentionally stopped acting but really regretted when declining health forced him to stop writing and painting.

Among his peers, he was always considered the best actor. His take on acting could be summed up in three words, "just do it" ( )

Good biography of Cagney, very readable - I must admit I came away from it thinking a little less of the man. ( )