The film White Heat (1949) is a story about a gangster named Cody Jarrett who goes to prison after confessing for a hotel robbery to avoid the death penalty for leading a train robbery stealing $300,000. Cody is played by the actor James Cagney and is portrayed as a ruthless and mentally disturbed gangster who has an obsessive relationship with his mother. In prison Cody befriends his cell-mate Vic Pardo, who is really an undercover cop named Hank Fallon. Hank saves Cody's life when Cody's fellow gang member Big Ed tries to have Cody killed. Cody breaks out of prison and Hank follows Cody as he sets up his next big heist. Big Ed is killed by Cody for trying to run away with his wife Verna and for killing his mother, who was actually killed by Verna. Cody plans to rob a chemical plant with the help of his friend, Daniel Winston "The Trader". Cody's plans fall to pieces in the finale of the film, where Cody is surrounded by police and has no where to run. He jumps onto a chemical tanker which he explodes and kills himself.
             James Cagney returns to his role as a gangster in White Heat. His performance as Cody Jarrett is very intense and he portrays Cody as a psychopathic and violent criminal. He is very merciless towards others and kills anyone who gives him trouble. The relationship between Cody and his mother (played by Margaret Wycherly) shows how crazy he is. His mother is very caring towards him and Wycherly's acting is very good. Cody's headaches, which he faked as a kid to get his mother's attention, show how unstable he is and how he constantly relies on his mom. When he finds out about his mother's death, Cody flips out and smashes through the prison cafeteria crying. Cagney's acting is very intense and realistic in this scene and the final scene when he dies sreaming "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!" Virginias Mayo's performance as Vern
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