In the social-problem drama, Come Fill the Cup, James Cagney plays Lew Marsh, a great newspaper reporter, who is ruined by liquor, hitting the skids.
Helped by a reformed alcoholic, Charlie Dolan (James Gleason), Lew pulls himself out of the gutter and restores his reputation.
Due to his successful recovery, Lew is asked by his editor to straighten out his drunken nephew (Gig Young).
Complicating matters is the fact that the nephew’s wife (Phyllis Thaxter) is Lew’s former girlfriend.
The nephew’s involvement with gangsters results in the death of Dolan, but Lew contains his rage, vanquishes the crooks, and puts the nephew on the right track.
“Come Fill the Cup” is too soft to be effective as a serious problem drama, but it is well acted throughout, especially by Gig Young, who received a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his work.
Oscar Nominations: 1
Supporting Actor: Gig Young
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The winner of the Supporting Actor Oscar was Karl Malden for “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Credits
Warner
Running time: 113 Minutes.
Directed by Gordon Douglas
Released: October 24, 1951
Cast
James Cagney as Lew Marsh
Phyllis Thaxter as Paula Copeland
Raymond Massey as John Ives
James Gleason as Charley Dolan
Gig Young as Boyd Copeland
Selena Royle as Dolly Copeland
Larry Keating as Julian Cuscaden
Charlita as Maria Diego
Sheldon Leonard as Lennie Garr
Douglas Spencer as Ike Bashaw
John Kellogg as Don Bell