DILLINGER
US, 1991, 90 minutes, Colour.
Mark Harmon, Sherilynn Fenn, Bruce Abbott, Tom Bower, Patricia Arquette, Will Patton, Xander Berkley, Lawrence Tierney, Vince Edwards.
Directed by Rupert Wainwright.
Dillinger is yet another version of the brief career of the public enemy No.l of 1933/34. A feature was already made. in 1945, not very long after Dillinger's being gunned down outside the Biograph theatre in Chicago after a screening of Manhattan Melodrama. This version starred Laurence Tierney (who has a cameo role in. the present film as a sheriff gunned to death by Dillinger).
A much more violent interpretation of Dillinger was made in the 70s by John Millius (Wind and the Lion, Conan The Barbarian). Warren Oates was the gangster. This version was made for T.V., so its presentation of violence and sex is restrained for the widest possible audience. Mark Harmon, television star and light comedian, is Dillinger. (Although Harmon has appeared in a number of dramas, including a version of Sweet Bird of Youth with Elizabeth Taylor.) Will Paton (reminding audiences of his sinister role in No Way Out) is the G Man Melvin Purvis. T.V.'s Ben Casey, Vince Edwards, appears briefly as J.Edgar Hoover. The film traces the career of Dillinger as a gangster from his release from Jail in 1933 through a series of robberies, his teaming up with gangster of the time including Baby Face Nelson, the pursuit of Purvis who became obsessed by him as did J. Edgar Hoover for publicity for the FBI.
1. Interesting presentation of a gangster of the depression era? The previous movies? Audience familiarity with the gangsters of the period? The background of the depression? Moral judgements on them and their behaviour?
2. The recreation of the period, Indiana, Illinois, Florida, Texas? The cities, the farms, the towns, the banks? Special and stunt work? Musical Score?
3. the title and its focus on Dillinger himself? Mark Harmon's screen presence and interpretation? The information given about his being jailed for attempted robbery at 21, the nine years in jail? The friendships made and the loyalties? His return home, his sullen father, his father giving him the meal but turning him out? His search for jobs? The robberies? Getting the money to get guns to release his friends from prison? His vanity, showing off? The early robberies? His attraction towards women, meeting Billie, the love between them, the affair? Her participating in the robberies? The reaction of the Indiana police? The newspaper reports? His getting
his friends out of jail? the violence? His being caught, interviewed? His being released from jail by his friends? The further arrests, his escape with the home made toy gun? His meeting up with Billie? Going to Florida? The reputation? Tine return, his picnic with his family, the photos, his father's pride in him? The further robberies? The pursuit by the G-men., at the resort, the attack and his being wounded, escaping? the Doctors and their help? Billie's arrest? The murder of the friend by the G-men? His taking up with the young waitress? The meeting with Anna Gaze? the final set up, his reaction to watching Clark Gable in Manhattan Melodrama? His being gunned down? His philosophy of life, explaining to Billie and to the waitress about living life to the full anal not worrying about the future? A product o of the depression? American violence? His celebrity status and Americans knowing all about him, a media hero? His being used by J.Edgar Hoover?
4. The world of the gangsters, their age and experience, their access to guns? The weaponry and the violence of their shoot-ups, the bank robberies and their style? The money? The morality, lack of conscience? Holidays in Florida? Picnics with families? Arrests? Deals with the FBI?
5. The women in Dillinger's life, meeting Billie, his offer, her going with him? In love? Sharing in the robberies? The gangsters girlfriends and the chance encounters? Billie's arrest? Picking up with the young waitress, her knowing who he was? Anna Gaze as the lady in red?
6. The public response to Dillinger, the people in the banks, the Sheriffs? The local police - Matthew Leach and The Indiana police and their squads? Loosing Dillinger?
7. The FBI, Hoover anal his megalomania, his ambitions, wanting publicity? Trying to impress the politicians? His angers and hold over Purvis? Purvis and his associates, relentless work, detection, following leads? The attack on the resort and the violence? Dillinger escaping? The press conference anal his calling the interviewers questions low shots? His burning ambition? Anna Gaze and the set-up? the gunning down of Dillinger? the postscript about Purvis's later suicide?
8. Anna Gaze, the brothel, illegal immigrant, the deal with the FBI? The lady in red?
9. The value of this kind of gangster film:.- in portraying the past, depression circum-
stances and the rise of violence? The criminal mentality? The possible danger of glorifying criminals?
