Izzy and Billy's screenplay is based on Ferenc Molnar's play, so the solid structure is already there. It's what they do within that solid structure that makes them the geniuses they were. The film is also intensely rhythmic, and was intentionally designed to be as fast as possible, Cagney setting the pacing, often perfectly performing complicated speeches in single takes.
But all the cast are great - Lilo Pulver, Pamela Tiffin, Arlene Francis, Hanns Lothar.. Horst Buchholz is a bit much but he's still funny. Love it when they're 'Americanizing' him and every time he comes back into Cagney's office he's got more clothes on.
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| This very funny conductor is none other than film composer Friedrich Hollaender (A Foreign Affair, Sabrina)! |
The jokes about the 'ordinary' Germans not knowing what was going on during the war are quite cutting.
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