In 1919, in the end of the World War I, the G.I. Eddie Bartlett (James Cagney) meets George Hally (Humphrey Bogart) and the student of Law School Lloyd Hart (Jeffrey Lynn) in a trench and sooner the war ends. Back in USA, Eddie is not able to find a job and is sustained by his great friend Danny Green (Frank McHugh),who offers Eddie to share his cab and make some money working as cab driver. Eddie decides to visit Jean Sherman (Priscilla Lane),who had corresponded with him during the war and is crazy about him, and for his surprise, she is a teenager. In 1920, with the 18th Amendment, the Volstead Act is in force, beginning the period of the unpopular Prohibition. Eddie accidentally meets the owner of a speakeasy Panama Smith (Gladys George),they become close friends and she introduces him in bootlegging of liquor. Eddie becomes rich, meets Jean Sherman again and falls for her. He also raises a profitable partnership with George and Lloyd is hired as his lawyer. In 1924, bootlegging has a grown from individual effort to a big business associated with corruption, violence and murder, and the light machine-gun Tommy becomes an important tool in this business. Lloyd and Jean fall in love for each other, and Eddie has a great deception. Later, on 19 October 1929 with the Black Tuesday, Eddie looses all his fortune, and when the Prohibition falls after thirteen years in force, he returns to the activity of cab driver. On the Christmas Eve, when he meets Jean again as a client of his cab, his life is leaded to a tragic end.

"The Roaring Twenties" is certainly the best gangster movies I have seen together with "Once Upon a Time in America". I have just included this stunning movie in my list of favorite films ever. It is impressive the capacity of the screenplay writers and director Raoul Walsh in developing a complex and magnificent dramatic story of crime and romance, supported by historic events and wonderful songs, in 104 minutes running time only. The cast, with James Cagney, the lovely Priscilla Lane, Gladys George and Humphrey Bogart among others, seems to be in state of grace with perfect interpretations, particularly Priscilla Lane, singing magnificent classic songs with a wonderful voice. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Heróis Esquecidos" ("Forgotten Heroes")

While there were a lot of gangster films made by Warner Brothers in the 30s and very early 40s, this stands out as perhaps one of the very best. Part of this is due to the pairing of Cagney AND Bogart, as there is so much energy and excellent "thuggish" acting that it's hard to get bored watching it. About the only negative at all is that as Humphrey Bogart was not yet a breakout star, it's rather predictable what will happen in a showdown with Cagney. But despite this, watch the movie. It's got all the ingredients of a fine gangster flick--excellent acting, writing, a breezy pace and the Warner Brother's trademark of both quality and action designed for the common man.

The Roaring Twenties was the third and last film that James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart worked on together. As usual Cagney was the good bad guy and Bogey the bad bad guy. They went out in style with this one. Shortly afterwards Bogey finally got his own A star status with The Maltese Falcon.

Cagney, Bogart, and Jeffrey Lynn are three doughboys from World War I who meet just before the Armistice is signed. The plot then focuses on Cagney and his inability to adjust to civilian life. But then Prohibition comes, voted right into the U.S. Constitution, and Cagney sees his opportunities and takes them.

In fact all three of them get into the rackets of selling illegal alcoholic spirits and they meet up again later. There stories, individual and combined, are set against the background of the historical events of the 1920s in a nice documentary style with narration by John Deering.

There are two prominent female players in the cast also. Priscilla Lane beloved by both Cagney and Lynn and Gladys George who is supposed to be that famous nightclub hostess Texas Guinan with a different name who carries a big old torch for Cagney. Both do a fine job, especially Gladys George the quintessential good time gal with a heart of gold.

Writer and critic Mark Hellinger wrote the script and Hellinger in his day was quite the boozer. He knew the bootleg and nightclub scene in New York inside out. Gladys George's character is Texas Guinan, the others are composites of people he knew and dealt with.

Raoul Walsh one of the best action directors ever keeps things going at a crisp pace. In a James Cagney movie there ain't no other kind of pace.

At the beginning there's some narration saying that in the future people might not believe this era could ever happen. The film was made in 1939 and Prohibition was repealed by another Constitutional Amendment. Now 85 years after it took affect in 1920 The Roaring Twenties has an almost unbelievable quality to it. I'm not sure young people watching it today take it for reality.

But believe me, we were that stupid in America. The prime movers behind Prohibition were the Protestant fundamentalists who got the U.S. Constitution changed to fit their particular views. And the Roaring Twenties is an expose of the stupidity that followed.

The film is great and should serve as a warning against future meddling with the our Constitution.