Cagney and Sheridan portray Danny Kenny and Peggy Nash, who have been sweethearts since childhood. Danny, a manual laborer, does some boxing on the side, but he's not overly interested in making a career out of the ring. However, wanting to make some quick money to help his aspiring-musician brother (Arthur Kennedy), he takes on the name Young Samson and agrees to a fight. Although Danny finds immediate success, he really doesn't want to keep fighting, so he backs away from the ring.
Dancing professionally is what Peggy is all about. She's been dancing since she was a child, and having her name in lights is all she can think about, so when professional dancer, Murray Burns (Anthony Quinn), expresses interest in her, she's totally ecstatic. Wanting more than just the average life she's known, Peggy partners with Murray, and the two begin touring together.
Danny wants to marry Peggy, but when she is offered a more lucrative gig, she chooses that over Danny. Brokenhearted, Danny figures that the only way he can regain Peggy's love is to be on top himself, which causes him to push for a fight he just might not be ready for.
The Max Steiner score in this film is gorgeous...another thing you probably wouldn't expect in a James Cagney film and just one more reason I enjoy City for Conquest so much. It's really a touching, heart-tugging film, which I hope y'all get a chance to watch.
Happy viewing!!!
