White Heat
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.
Critics Sentiment
Cody dies in the tank explosion shouting his final words
Verna kills Ma Jarrett while Cody is imprisoned
The dramatic leap from Ma's off-screen murder (6.9) to Cody's legendary prison breakdown when he learns of her death (9.5), a swing of 2.6 points.
White Heat maintains exceptionally high critical praise throughout its runtime, opening with an electrifying train robbery and building through prison sequences to Cagney's acclaimed breakdown scene. The film sustains strong momentum through its final act, culminating in one of cinema's most iconic endings that critics universally celebrate as a masterpiece moment.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 61
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
Paul Guilfoyle
Roy Parker (uncredited)
Ford Rainey
Zuckie
Robert Foulk
Payroll Guard at Chemical Plant
Ian MacDonald
Creel
Robert Osterloh
Ryley
Joel Allen
Operative (uncredited)
Claudia Barrett
Cashier (uncredited)
Ray Bennett
Guard (uncredited)
Marshall Bradford
Chief of Police (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg
Convict (uncredited)
John Butler
Motorist at Gas Station (uncredited)
Robert Carson
Agent at Directional Map (uncredited)
Crew
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