Mae Clarke and James Cagney

You can't talk about Mae Clarke without mentioning that she is the one who got the grapefruit in the face from James Cagney in The Public Enemy. While this 1931 film is excellent, unfortunately Mae had little else to do in it. Less well-remembered, but more interesting, are her other two teamings with Cagney.

In 1933 she had second billing in Lady Killer, playing a femme fatale who entices Cagney into her apartment, then into a life of crime. When she leaves him in jail and runs off with another man, then comes back later and causes problems for him and his new girlfriend, she is expelled from his home by being dragged across the floor by her mousy hair and thrown out the door. She returns later and actually risks her life by helping him escape from the thugs who are trying to kill him, and she is rewarded for this with an unceremonious exit from the film, while Cagney and the raven-haired other woman fly off to get married.

Finally in 1936, Mae is now raven-haired and engaged to Cagney in Great Guy. He is nothing but loving and romantic to her through this entire film; she calls off the engagement at one point for some silly reason, but by the end of the movie he's signed his life away to buy her a killer diamond ring and they're making out on an expensive couch in a furniture store.

It sure beats being a blonde getting chased around by Boris Karloff on your wedding night.

The Public Enemy is often aired on Turner Classic Movies, and available on video.
Lady Killer is occasionally aired on Turner Classic Movies, and available on video.
Great Guy is available on video, DVD, and if you've got the bandwith you can actually watch it online at Movieflix.