Watch Taxi

In the 1931 film Taxi, directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring James Cagney, Loretta Young, and George E. Stone, the audience is taken on a high-octane ride through the streets of New York City. The film opens with Cagney's character, Matt Nolan, driving his taxi at breakneck speed through the city's crowded streets, dodging pedestrians and other vehicles as he heads to his next fare.

Nolan is a tough-talking, fast-driving cabbie who dreams of owning his own taxi company one day. He's got a tough exterior, but underneath it all, he's got a heart of gold. When he meets a young socialite named Sue Riley (played by Loretta Young), he's immediately taken with her. Sue's family is wealthy and disapproving of her friendship with Nolan, but she's drawn to him despite their objections.

As the film progresses, we see Nolan's world turned upside down when he gets involved with a group of criminals, including his pal Jake (George E. Stone), who convince him to join them in a robbery. The heist goes wrong, and Nolan is forced to flee for his life, with Sue by his side. The two of them become outlaws, hopping from town to town and eluding the law.

Throughout the film, we see Cagney's incredible talent for playing tough guys with heart. He's at his best in the many action-packed sequences, driving his cab at top speed and taking on thugs twice his size. Young is also excellent as the wealthy young woman who falls for the cab driver, creating a believable and touching romance that adds depth to the film.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Taxi is the film's use of location shooting. Rather than relying on studio backdrops, director Roy Del Ruth went out into the streets of New York City to capture the gritty, realistic feel of the city. The result is a film that feels alive and authentic, with a real sense of place that helps to ground the action.

Overall, Taxi is a thrilling and engaging film that showcases James Cagney at his best. With a strong supporting cast and a compelling story, it's a classic example of early Hollywood cinema that still holds up today.

Taxi is a 1932 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 9 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.