Taxi!

The 1932 American crime drama directed by Roy Del Ruth portrays the struggle of independent New York taxi drivers against a mob seeking to monopolize the cab industry. When veteran driver Pop Riley (Guy Kibbee) refuses to relinquish his spot outside a café, his cab is destroyed, prompting him to shoot one of the aggressors; he is imprisoned and soon dies. His daughter, waitress Sue (Loretta Young), initially supports a resistance movement led by determined driver Matt Nolan (James Cagney), but after her father's death, she becomes disillusioned with violence. Despite their differences, Sue and Matt develop a romantic relationship and marry. On their wedding night, tragedy strikes when Matt's brother, Dan, is killed by gangster Buck Gerard (David Landau). Matt seeks revenge, but Sue and Buck's girlfriend, Marie (Dorothy Burgess), prevent him from taking the law into his own hands, allowing the police to apprehend Buck. The film features a memorable dance contest scene where George Raft, in an uncredited role, defeats the Cagney-Young duo, leading to a physical altercation. It is also noted for Cagney's line: "Come out and take it, you dirty yellow-bellied rat, or I'll give it to you through the door!", often misquoted as "You dirty rat, you killed my brother." The film is distinguished by its realistic depiction of violence, including scenes with live bullets, which led Cagney to avoid such practices in future projects.