“G-MEN”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20217, 19 September 1935, Page 14

“G-MEN”

WAR ON CRIMINALS JAMES CAGNEY HEADS BIG CAST Many months were spent in preparation before a camera turned on the First National picture “G Men,” a story of the daring exploits of the men of the United States Department of Justice, and which comes to the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. A vast amount of research was necessary to depict effectively the six months’ training period through which all recruits go before becoming fullfledged “G Men.” In order to assure technical accuracy in the fingerprinting and ballistics department the studio called upon Frank P. Gompert, head of the criminological department of the Los Angeles county sheriff’s office to aid in furnishing these divisions. Gompert obtained fingerprinting apparatus, selector devices, magnified photos of bullets, fingerprint comparators, microscopes, helixometera and a maze of other mysterious apparatus employed by the modern criminologist. Experts who visited the sets described them as remarkable examples of a complete criminological laboratory. The heroic part the department of Justice played in bringing to justice the perpetrators of these crimes is dramatically depicted. The picture is one of the most thrilling dramas ever screened taken from newspaper headlines of the past three years of the battle of government men against the arch criminals of the country. The all star cast is headed by James Cagney and includes Margaret Lindsay, Ann Dvorak, Robert Armstrong, Barton Mac Lane, Lloyd Nolan, William Harrigan, Russell Hopton and Edward Pawley. Cagney, Hollywood’s most famous Bad Man, deserts his past roles to portray the part of a “G-Man.” His acting is said to be the finest in his career. Some critics have gone as far as to say that in “G-Men,” he has turned in a performance even greater than in the memorable “Public Enemy.” Ann Dvorak, who revealed a surprising talent for song-and-dance in “Sweet Music,” the Warner Bros, musical, has a similar part in this film plus an opportunity to show her dramatic talents.