DILLINGER

US, 1945, 70 minutes, Black and White.
Lawrence Tierney, Edmund Lowe, Anne Jeffreys.
Directed by Max Nosseck.

Dillinger is quite an effective B-budget thriller showing something of the career of the gangster. Made a decade after his death, it takes a strongly moralising stance.

1. How successful a gangster picture? A 'B' picture in style and budget? Its impact in the middle 40s, impact now? Comparison with later cinema treatments of the same theme and subject?

2. The use of black and white photography, semi-documentary style?

3. The closeness of the film to Dillinger himself and his death? The impact in America then? A close analysis of the gangster and his meaning?

4. Audience response to Dillinger's father and his lecture tour? His moralizing about his son?

5. How well did the film portray John Dillinger in himself? As a credible character? The shadowy aspects of his upbringing and character and personality? His strengths and weaknesses? Did they explain why he came a criminal?

6. The importance of the background of his home, his humiliation and sense of being put down, eg. in the cafe, his robbing to get the money for his girlfriend? The impact of jail, the hardening of his attitudes, his sense of being imprisoned?

7. His ambitions and their growth, his learning from people in prison? The role of Specs? His dominance over the men in prison? His ambitions and drive? The personalities of the men he drew around him?

8. The portrayal of the various hold-ups, violence? As an accurate portrayal of violence in the 30s? Audience response to this and the personalities involved?

9. The importance of Dillinger's encounter with Helen? The robbery at the theatre? Her fascination, following him? Did she love him at all? What did she want from him? How selfish was she?

10. Dillinger's vindictiveness as indicating his character? His return to do violence on the waiter who humiliated him?

11. The role of the police and the possibilities of their pursuit of Dillinger?

12. The effect of his notoriety on him, the police pursuit?

13. His sense of being caged? Helen's being able to go out? Why did she decide to betray him? The clash of loyalty and money?

14. The portrayal of the capture of Dillinger? The atmosphere of his being relaxed, her tension, the police surrounding the theatre, the eruption of violence?

15. The purpose of making this kind of film, understanding a period in America, the American way of life, violence inherent in America?