DILLINGER

US, 1973, 107 minutes, Colour.
Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, Michelle Phillips, Cloris Leachman, Harry Dean Stanton.
Directed by John Milius.

The gangster film tradition, dating from Al Capone's own day, shows us the city mobster and his protection rackets. More recently, the gangster film has shown us the Depression bank-robbers, vain back-country amateurs, turning themselves into headline heroes in a poverty-stricken America. Robbers, hunted by the FBI with an arsenal of weapons, become trigger-happy killers, saving themselves recklessly, heroic killers expecting to die young, going out in a blaze of bullet-glory. Dillinger was one of the most famous and this film effectively shows us his hey-day and the hey-day of Melvin Purvis, headline seeking law avenger. Authentic-looking, with documentary overtones, an interesting look at a strange, ugly period.

1. Why was this film made in the 70s? For entertainment? For moral messages? For exploitation of a past trend? Did the film convey well the 70s nostalgia for the 30s? How well portrayed in sets and costumes and atmosphere was the 30s? How is the U.S. today similar to that of the 30s? How different?

2. Comment on the use of the documentary style, with commentary by Melvin Purvis and dates and places given. Did this detach the audience from identifying too much with Dillinger as a hero? Did it help the audience to evaluate what really happened?

3. How important was the Depression atmosphere for the film and for the characters in it? Did the film portray the Depression as it was? What effect did the Depression have on America? What effect did it have on its criminals?

4. Did the film explain John Dillinger as a person? Did it fill in enough background of him as a boy? His ambitions to be a robber? The few sequences of his family and the love theme despite his reputation? Why did he have such ambitions? Why did the times encourage him to fulfil those ambitions? The influence of the other robbers at the time? The press's role in providing him with continued headlines? The fact that he had become a national criminal hero? His ability to lead gangs? And successful robberies? His complete self-confidence? Was he in any way an admirable character? An interesting character? Did he have any redeeming features? Was it made clear why he robbed banks? How did he command the loyalty of his gang, eg. Harry and his wife? The importance of the sequence where Dillinger shows off and takes Billy? His throwing the money back to the frightened people and his taking the girl? How did he compel her to love him? She did not at first, but finally did. why? She was ultimately loyal to him. Why? The importance of the character of Melvin Purvis? Was he of sufficient balance to Dillinger in the film?

5. How courageous was Purvis? was he as vain as Dillinger? Going into houses with his guns and his cigar etc.? His seeking of headlines? The importance of the conversation he had with the little boy playing cops and robbers?

6. Did the film give a fair picture of the FBI and the G men? Was it too much against them? Purvis's comments on Hoover? The film's attitude towards Hoover?

7. The film was full of violence. Was it done well? Who was responsible for the violence in the 30s? Were criminals themselves? The police and the FBI pursuing them? All had guns. Who started the killing? Were the criminals vicious and killers? Or did the FBI and the police with their arsenals force the criminals into violence? what did the film say?

8. Once the violence had begun there was a war. wars demand heroics. Did this mean that the violence escalated on both sides? Who was to blame?

9. The criminals needed to support themselves and save themselves. The FBI began their campaigns with violence. How well were these portrayed in the film? What was your judgement on them?

10. Was Dillinger weak in being arrested? Comment on his behaviour when he was arrested, his vanity in showing off? His life in prison and his control there? How well did he engineer his escape? Comment on the fact that he took the warder and the working man with him and robbed a bank. The moral comment on their taking the money which Dillinger left them? The loyalty of the black man that he took with him?

11. Comment on the deaths of Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. What comment was being made here? The fact that they received support from the locals? The fact that they expected to die so young? How did these prepare for Dillinger's death?

12. The importance of the sequence with the lady in red? (Comment on the way that this was filmed, starting with her face, with a slow tracking back at the interchange with Purvis and with the police.)

13. How dramatic were the sequences of Dillinger's death? The build-up of atmosphere outside the theatre, with its authentic tone, the shooting of him and the screaming of his companion? Was this the only way to destroy killers by the FBI?

14. What was the purpose of the aftermath of the film? The comments on what happened to each of the characters, e.g. the deporting of the lady in red and Melvin Purvis's ultimate suicide? Of Dillinger's father and Billy touring the country and lecturing against evil? What was your reaction to this?

15. How did such gangsters actually appear in the 30s? They were amateurs with very little technique. They were hicks from the backwoods compared with the city mobsters. why did they flourish? Did society help them to flourish?

16. What did the film reveal about the history of the United States, its crime and violence? Was this a valuable film contributing towards understanding? or was it an average film with some exciting entertainment? Why?