I'm a longtime fan of classic movies, but this is my first post here. I'm hoping there are some James Cagney fans who can answer a couple of questions for me.
First, I know Cagney was estranged from both of his children. Does anybody know why? Has anybody seen the documentary Top of the World? It featured his daughter, and I'm wondering if she mentioned her relationship with her father, or spoke strictly about his movies.
Also, while trying to find out the answers to these questions via the Internet, I ran across this website:
http://www.talbot1.com/chronology/subpages/1955-57/oakwoodfriends.htm
The author says:
"one Oakwood parent, noted actor James Cagney, came to see his daughter perform in the school play and, arriving before the performance, found her holding hands with a boy with substantially darker skin than her own. Cagney, true to form, immediately withdrew his daughter from the school and protested to the school's board. Because of Cagney's wealth and national prominence, his actions carried unmerited weight and the members of Oakwood's Board of Managers were divided about how to respond. In the face of this division, Oakwood's cherished headmaster, William Clark, resigned his position in protest."
I'd hate to believe Cagney acted this way. Does anybody know more about this incident? Or if it even occurred?
