White Heat

1949 • 1h 54m •

Crime Drama Thriller

MOVIEVIBE Rating

★ 7.6/10

556 reviews

Your Rating

A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and then leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist. After the heist, events take a crazy turn.

"Pick up the pieces folks, Jimmy's in action again!"

Top Billed Cast

James Cagney

Arthur 'Cody' Jarrett

Virginia Mayo

Verna Jarrett

Edmond O'Brien

Vic Pardo

Margaret Wycherly

Ma Jarrett

Steve Cochran

'Big Ed' Somers

John Archer

Philip Evans

Wally Cassell

'Cotton' Valletti

Fred Clark

Daniel Winston

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

J John Chard Verified TMDB Critic

2013-11-02

I told you to keep away from that radio. If that battery is dead it'll have company.

White Heat is directed by Raoul Walsh and adapted by Ivan Goff & Ben Roberts from a story suggested by Virginia Kellogg. It stars James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Steve Cochran & Margaret Wycherly. Music is by Max Steiner and photography by Sidney Hickox.

Cody Jarrett (Cagney) is the sadistic leader of a violent and ruthless gang of thieves. Unnervingly devoted to his mother (Wycherly) and afflicted by terrible headaches since childhood, Cody is one bad day away from being a full blown psycho...