Remembering Ann Sheridan

Putting the "oomph" back in "The Oomph Girl"

What the critics had to say about
Ann Sheridan


The girl is, of course, Ann Sheridan. And in an odd way, she too was part of the ambition everyone harbored for this film. Cagney in his earlier incarnations of Hollywood at Warner Brothers had not had leading ladies of much force, energy or attractiveness. They were kind of anonymous women who really couldn't stand up to or share a scene on a 50/50 bases with Cagney.

Ann Sheridan was different. She was a terrific presence on the screen. She did three pictures with Cagney. Two before this. They could spar on a pretty much even keel. And that was significant to Cagney. He finally had here a leading lady who had the energy, the passion, the skills to match his.

- Richard Schickel, Time magazine film critic -- excerpt from the DVD commentary of City for Conquest.



Ann Sheridan really comes into her own. She’s not only more Oomph-ish than usual, but gives a tangy performance of the girl whose morals, despite her way with cards and Cagney, are above reproach.

- Screenland about Ann's performance in Torrid Zone



[She] steps up a notch or two in our estimation as the femme fatale of the piece . . . But if the males are two-fisted, Miss Sheridan meets them blow for blow, line for line,

- The New York Times about Ann's performance in Torrid Zone



Miss Sheridan is entirely at ease as the hard-boiled torch singer, and when the occasion demands sentiment and simplicity that too, is at her command.

- The New York World-Telegram about Ann's performance in Torrid Zone



Miss Sheridan is excellent as the girl, displaying dancing abilities in several ballroom numbers with (Anthony) Quinn.

- Variety about Ann's peformance in City for Conquest



Any picture that has Mr. Cagney and Miss Sheridan is bound to be tough and salty, right off the city's streets.  And this one is.  Miss Sheridan waxes quite emotional, and Mr. Cagney, as usual, gives the story the old one-two punch.

- New York Times about Ann's peformance in City for Conquest



The forceful personalities of James Cagney and Ann Sheridan are more than enough to make up for the deficiencies of City for Conquest, and whatever success the picture enjoys, which should be considerable, may be laid to the presence of these two stars in the cast, rather than to any ingenuity in plot, characterization or development.  Miss Sheridan turns on her celebrated 'oomph' at every given opportunity, and, on occasion even does some fine acting on her own behalf, which is more than you'd expect.

- New York Morning Telegraph about Ann's peformance in City for Conquest



The truth is that even so resourceful a player as Ann Sheridan is behind the eight ball throughout most of the film.  As a honkytonk entertainer who incurs the wrath of a Milwaukee big shot and teams up with a renowned songwriter only to become blacklisted by her former associates, she gives a lusty and appealing portrayal.  The continuity lets her down on more than one occasion.  When she walks out on Jack Nortworth under the delusion that he will immediately team up with her rival, it is impossible for her to give the scene any trace of credibility.

- Howard Barnes of the New York Herald-Tribune about Shine on Harvest Moon



Ann Sheridan gives a thoroughly amusing look at a womean who accepts her husband's bigness of heart with bitter and candid distaste.  As a matter of fact, it is the lovely and willful sarcasm in her approach -- the non-Pollyannaism -- that keys the whole purpose of the film.

- Bosley Crowther (New York Times) about Ann's performance in Good Sam



As an actress, Ann Sheridan is a handsome redhead with a figure so fine she even looks attractive when she sits down in a short, tight dress.  Her wardrobe is extensive, an entrance in white satin drew a hand, and she sounds like Tallulah Bankhead if Miss Bankhead had been born in Texas.

- about Ann's 1958 Chicago performance in the stage play Kind Sir



Ann Sheridan plays the secretary in one key of bored tolerance, which is not surprising in view of her employer's juvenile behavior.

- Bosley Crowther (The New York Times) about Honeymoon for Three



Miss Sheridan is on hand to sing a couple of songs and wear a grass skirt (which ain't hay).

- The New York Times about Ann in Navy Blues



Return from Ann Sheridan "Critics" Page to Ann Sheridan Main Page