Johnny Come Lately (Johnny Vagabond) (1943)

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For his first independently-produced starring effort, James Cagney chose the sentimental drama Johnny Come Lately. Cagney plays itinerant newspaperman Tom Richards, who wanders into a small corruption-ridden town. Striking up a friendship with elderly Vinnie McLeod (Grace George in her only movie… More For his first independently-produced starring effort, James Cagney chose the sentimental drama Johnny Come Lately. Cagney plays itinerant newspaperman Tom Richards, who wanders into a small corruption-ridden town. Striking up a friendship with elderly Vinnie McLeod (Grace George in her only movie appearance), the editor of the local newspaper, Tom tries to help Vinnie exposed the community's crooked politicians. He is thwarted in his efforts until Gashouse Mary (Marjorie Main), a wealthy dowager with a shady past, exposes the machinations behind a phony Orphan's Fund. At the insistence of star Cagney, the cast of Johnny Come Lately was filled with familiar character actors (Hattie McDaniel, Edward McNamara, George Cleveland, Margaret Hamilton, Lucien Littlefield) who are herein offered a lot more screen time than was customary. Based on the Louis Bromfield novel McLeod's Folly, Johnny Come Lately was produced by Cagney's brother William; the film garnered an Oscar nomination for Leigh Harline's nostalgic musical score. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: William K. Howard
Written By: John Van Druten
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 3, 1943 Wide
On DVD: Sep 9, 1990

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Cast

            James Cagney as Tom Richards

            Grace George as Vinnie McLeod

            Marjorie Main as Gashouse Mary

            Marjorie Lord as Jane

            Hattie McDaniel as Aida

            Edward McNamara as W.M. Dougherty

            Robert H. Barrat as Bill Swain

            George Cleveland as Willie Ferguson

            Margaret Hamilton as Myrtle Ferguson

            Norman Willis as Dudley Hirsh

            Lucien Littlefield as Blaker

            Edwin Stanley as Winterbottom

            Irving Bacon as Chief of Police

            Tom Dugan as First Cop

            Charles Irwin as Second Cop

            John Sheehan as Third Cop

            Clarence Muse as Dougherty's Butler

            Arthur Hunnicutt as Second Tramp

            Victor Kilian as Tramp in Box Car

            William "Wee Willie" Davis as Bouncer

            Alec Craig as Court Bailiff

            Joseph Crehan as Judge Flynn

            William Henry as Pete Dougherty

            John Miller as First Tramp

            Henry Hall as Old Timer
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