James Cagney and Doris Day, the Perfect Screen Couple

Martin Snyder (James Cagney) and Ruth Etting (Doris Day), In “Love Me or Leave Me.” Warner Bros.

James Cagney and Doris Day were a great team. Although the actors starred together in only two films, there was magic when they worked together, perhaps because they were good friends in real life. Day said that working with Cagney was among the happiest times in her life.

They made cameo appearances in “Starlift” (1951), a star-studded wartime musical, but Cagney is onscreen for only about one minute. They were in several films together, but only starred together in two.

‘The West Point Story’

Cagney’s first film with Day was “The West Point Story,” (1950), a Warner Bros. musical. Day had been with Warner Bros. only two years, while Cagney had been at the studio for 20 years. This military musical provided plenty of opportunities for them to sing, dance, act, and display their fiery chemistry. They play friends rather than love interests; Cagney is her former manager, who ends up with Virginia Mayo, while Day falls in love with Gordon MacRae.

(L–R) Eve Dillon (Virginia Mayo), Elwin 'Bix' Bixby (James Cagney), and Jan Wilson (Doris Day), in “West Point Story.” Warner Bros.

I found this romantic conclusion a little disappointing, since I think Cagney was better matched with Day than Mayo. Mayo said that his brilliantly insane acting in “White Heat” (1949), their first film together, scared her a little, and that they were not very close offscreen.

‘Love Me or Leave Me’

This duo’s second and, unfortunately, last picture together was “Love Me or Leave Me” (1955), the Ruth Etting biopic. Ironically, even though both leading actors were longtime Warner Bros. players in a studio known for gangster films, MGM produced this movie. James Cagney’s acting is brilliant as Martin “the Gimp” Snyder, the laundry racketeer with a pronounced limp from a bad foot and a huge chip on his shoulder. Cagney fought to get Day the role of Ruth Etting, the popular singer, recording star, and Ziegfeld Follies performer, and he was right in believing that she could handle the uncharacteristically dramatic and tough role.

Many praise this film as Day’s finest acting job. She summoned her considerable talent to play completely against type, unlike her usual, sweet self. It was unpleasant to see her play such a hard character, but I have to admire the excellent acting. This movie is a fictionalized account of the life of Ruth Etting, and an inaccurate portrayal of the 1920s and 30s. On the other hand, if I view this as a generic gangster film, forgetting that it was based on a true story, I admire the acting and the strength of the “sympathy angle,” which encourages the audience to feel sorry for a bad character.

Ruth Etting (Doris Day) and Martin Snyder (James Cagney), in “Love Me or Leave Me.” Warner Bros.

The early-1930s scenario of disliking a gangster’s moll, but pitying the mobster himself, is in full force here. Etting and Snyder are technically a couple, since they are married for the movie’s second half. However, they are far from loving sweethearts.

Martin’s feelings toward Ruth begin as lechery, but change to a deep, possessive love. Her feelings begin as suspicion and change to gratitude and a degree of fondness, before turning into complete contempt for him after their marriage. In a couple of scenes during Ruth’s early success, before they are married, a little bit of the fondness is visible. This characterized the actors’ real-life relationship.

A Great Team

Whether or not they were romantic, affectionate, or just friendly in a picture, Cagney and Day acted well together. They had a natural chemistry that added something to scenes of friendship, romance, anger, or any other situation. Although she was 23 years his junior, her perky, cheerful exuberance complemented his lively, leprechaunish charm.

Plus, they both had great musical talents. He was famous for dancing and she for singing, but she could also tap dance well, and he knew how to sell a song. Cagney could also play the piano to accompany her singing. They made a good musical team.

There were many classic stars who would have been great together. They may have been denied the opportunity of being frequent costars because they belonged to different studios or were popular at different times. This wasn’t the case with Cagney and Day, though, since she made her film debut at Warner Bros. in 1948, and James Cagney worked for Warner Bros. on and off throughout his career.

(L–R) Jan Wilson (Doris Day), Elwin 'Bix' Bixby (James Cagney), and Eve Dillon (Virginia Mayo), in “West Point Story.” Warner Bros.

Day made 14 musicals, but Cagney was in only one musical for Warner Bros. In 1931, the Warner brothers decided that Cagney was a tough guy gangster actor. Because of this stereotype, he only appeared in three Warner Bros. musicals in as many decades.

Jack Warner made most of the studio’s decisions, and he was a stubborn, impulsive man who never rethought his decisions. However, he himself stated that his decisions were right only 51 percent of the time. The brief period that Day and Cagney worked together at Warner Bros. could have been so much longer and may partially account for the 49 percent when he was wrong.

The possible scenarios for movies starring Cagney and Day are many. They would have been great as a musical team playing spouses, sweethearts, or just friends. Imagine the possibilities.

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