Mickey Rooney worked with James Cagney in the movie Midsummer Night’s Dream. (1935) Rooney was age 15. Cagney was 36. Rooney said, “Cagney became my dearest friend, and it remained a lifelong friendship.”
Cagney told this story to Rooney. Then Rooney told others:
Cagney wanted to get out from under his contract to Warner Brothers after making two movies a year for fourteen years with them. One day, he barged into the Harry Warner’s office. “I want ten million dollars in tax free money, or I’ll never make another movie again,” Cagney demanded.
Warner was shocked and started to rise from his chair.
“Don’t get up, Harry, or I’ll knock you right out the window,” the 5’4’’ Cagney threatened.
“Get out of my office,” Warner yelled. “You’ll never work in this business again as long as you live.”
Cagney walked out and didn't return to the studio.
Mickey Rooney told what happened after that:
19 months later, the studio executives were having a meeting in New York with all the stockbrokers. One of the biggest brokers called Harry over while they were having cocktails. The broker said, “Tell me. Why are there no Cagney pictures?”
“You know that bum Cagney came into my office," Warner said raising his voice, “and he said he wanted ten million dollars and tax free, or he’d never make another picture. And I threw him out.”
The broker pounced on Warner, grabbed him by the throat and started shaking him. ‘Give him a job, you stupid jerk,” he screamed. "You’re costing us 400 million dollars a year. Give him a job!”
And that’s how James Cagney became independently wealthy.
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Ron