Great Grapefruit Moments in Movie History

July 17, 2009



Okay, so I could only come up with one... The scene in The Public Enemy where James Cagney smashes a grapefruit into Mae Clark's face has to be one of the most iconic scenes in movie history. I'm serious, I'd actually love to do a series of paintings from films where a grapefruit is a part of the storyline. The only other film I can come up with is an Edward Everett Horton film in which his character complains continually throughout the film that every time he eats a grapefruit it squirts him in the eye. I can't think of the name of the film, though, so I'm at a loss.. any suggestions?



And it's time to wish one of my top favorite actors a "Happy Birthday!" To read my previous posts on the inimitable James Cagney, click here.

I'll be announcing the winners of the giveaway in a few hours, AND I am debuting a new weekly feature tomorrow morning, so stay tuned!

13 comments:

Raquel Stecher said...

Bless your heart for painting that famous Grapefruit scene. That's just wonderful.

There is a wonderful series grapefruit-related scene in the Nancy Drew movies. Bonita Granville's Nancy always has a half a grapefruit for breakfast with a cherry on top. While at breakfast she gets so excited over a case that she wants to get up and leave, and either her father or Ted want to steal the cherry. She always smacks them on the hand and proclaims "I was saving that for last!".

Nicole Newcomb said...

I love that scene. Did you hear what Mae Clark's ex-husband did? He went and saw the movie over and over again and every time that scene came on, he was cracking up. lol I guess they didn't get along after their divorce but it's still an excellent scene.

Unknown said...

Love the painting! Can't think of any grapefruit scenes, but I'll be on the lookout for them. That Edward Everett Horton scene you mentioned sounds familiar, but I can't place it.

Sarah Mann said...

That grapefruit-in-the-face painting is so epic. I love it!

Lolita of the Classics said...

It's not The Gay Divorcee? Or I don't know. What more films did he do? Lost Horizon?
Great looking painting of Cagney and Clarke!

Terence Towles Canote said...

I remember Horton's complaint about grapefruit, but I can't recall the movie. I know it was a comedy. Of course, that leaves a lot of movies it could be--The Front Page, The Merry Widow, The Gay Divorcee... I know it's not Arsenic and Old Lace (I've seen that movie repeatedly over the years). Anyway, love the painting of Cagney and Clarke!

Rachel said...

I love the painting, very well done!

Unknown said...

Thanks everyone!

It's not one of his more famous movies, like Top Hat, Gay Divorcee, etc. I think the most famous name in the movie was Horton's. Not really a B-Movie but maybe an A- movie.. I'm almost positive there was a girl who owned and/or worked at a diner in New York, and was being courted by a client or protege of Hortons? There may have been music or opera singing involved, but I'm not sure... I also think somebody was pretending to be somebody's husband?

I know this is way too confusing!!

Raquelle- I'll have to go watch some Nancy Drew films now for grapefruit inspiration :)

Keith said...

That is amazing. I love it. I'm a huge James Cagney fan.

Ginger Ingenue said...

I love your Grapefruit painting, Kate!

You know Cagney was a painter? And was so proud of that grapefruit scene! I'm sure he'd love this painting, too. :)

Juliette. said...

What a neat scene to paint! Great job...I always loved that. Didn't Wellman say he'd always wanted to do that, so he included it? Eh, maybe not, but that'd be cool. :)

CagneyFan said...

What a great painting and great portraits of Cagney!

I'm sorry I'm late for the party. I just discovered your delightful blog.

Regarding grapefruits---have you seen Cagney in "Hard to Handle"? There's an extended gag about Cagney's promotion of a grapefruit diet in this movie.

There's also a momentary sight gag of a grapefruit in his "Lady Killer."

And I think, but am not completely sure, that there's a grapefruit sight gag in the big gangster dinner in "Some Like It Hot." Again, I'm not completely sure.

BTW, this comment isn't about grapefruit but about Cagney and Bette Davis. Their first pairing was in "Jimmy the Gent," one of my Cagney favorites. It also features Alice White as a sob sister. It's a lot of fun and worth being released on DVD, IMO.

CagneyFan said...

Oops. I said Alice White in "Jimmy the Gent" was a sob sister. That was her role in "Picture Snatcher." Doh. In "Jimmy" she plays a hilarious ditz.