“Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” is a fast-paced, violent film noir movie with James Cagney in the lead. Upon release, the movie was banned in the state of Ohio for its extreme brutality. The plot tells the tale of an unrepentant fugitive from justice, Ralph Cotter, who unleashes a spate of crimes wherever he goes. The movie is directed by Gordon Douglas and based on a book of the same name by Horace McCoy.

The plot begins in a courtroom where a handful of people are being tried for aiding and abetting James Cotter, who is conspicuously missing from the trial. The story of Cotter is then told in flashbacks. Cotter is a prisoner at a penitentiary who has planned an elaborate escape plan with a crooked cop and fellow inmate, Carleton. During his escape, Cotter callously guns down one of the prison guards first and Carleton soon after.

As part of the plan, a car driven by Joe ‘Jinx’ Raynor (Steve Brodie) at the wheel and Carleton’s sister Holiday (Barbara Payton) help Cotter flee the scene. The trio go to a garage where the mechanic known to Cotter is arranging a car for Cotter to flee the area.

Cotter makes advances on Holiday, who initially rejects his advances, angry that her brother was killed during the getaway. While she blames Cotter for Carleton’s death, she is not aware that it was he, Cotter, who shot Carleton. For her part, she too seems disturbed and seems to enjoy Cotter’s physical mistreatment of her.

Holiday makes an ominous warning that she is a jealous woman and cannot accept Cotter betraying her with another woman. Cotter now commences his crime spree.

It begins with the robbing of the office of a grocery store. Next, he murders a car mechanic who fingers him to the police. Then, after tempting a couple of corrupt policemen and proposing to share his stolen loot, Cotter, with help from Jinx, surreptitiously records them making statements that will implicate them. After finding a crooked lawyer, Keith ‘Cherokee’ Mandon (Luther Adler), to be an accomplice in his criminal ways, Cotter then blackmails the cops and even manages to expunge his own criminal record and create a fake name for himself.

While a lesser criminal would stop at this point and perhaps turn a new leaf, Cotter is just getting started. He plans a heist by demanding the help of the lawyer and crooked cops. He then finds a rich heiress, Margaret Dobson (Helena Carter), seduces her, and even manages to win the approval of her father.

Meanwhile, the cops are on his trail. How will Holiday feel when she learns about Cotter’s plans of abandoning her and marrying the wealthy Dobson? How will she feel when she comes to know that Cotter ruthlessly gunned down her brother? Can Cotter get away with his evil deeds? The rest of the plot answers these questions.

There are few actors who portray the anti-hero like James Cagney. While the rest of the cast has delivered decent performances, this movie is carried on his more than capable shoulders. Despite his slight physical build and modest height, Cagney’s Cotter is menacing as they come. He has no redeeming qualities. While Cagney was in his fifties when the movie was made and looks a lot older than his love interests Holiday and Margaret, his fierce portrayal of Cotter is well-suited for this role.

“Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” is another great fast paced, gritty film noir classic that will be loved by all fans of crime thrillers.