Page "James Cagney" Paragraph 13

Later in 1957, Cagney ventured behind the camera for the first and only time to direct Short Cut to Hell, a remake of the 1941 Alan Ladd film This Gun for Hire, which in turn was based on the Graham Greene novel A Gun for Sale.

Cagney had long been told by friends that he would make an excellent director, so when he was approached by his friend, producer A. C. Lyles, he instinctively said yes.

He refused all offers of payment, saying he was an actor, not a director.

The film was low budget, and shot quickly.

As Cagney recalled, " We shot it in twenty days, and that was long enough for me.

I find directing a bore, I have no desire to tell other people their business ".