Little Caesar

• Directed by Mervyn LeRoy
• January 9, 1931
• Based on real life Mafia boss Salvatore Maranzano and adapted from the novel Little Caesar by William R. Burnett

The story of a hoodlum who rises through the ranks of organized crime in Chicago until he makes it to the top.

Little Caesar is credited with solidifying the gangster film as a viable genre in American cinema. I can certainly see how it has influenced many movies that have come since. It’s a story about a small-time hood with big dreams that claws his way to the top only to be taken down by his own hubris. While not perfect, it crafted a template used again and again and began a genre in earnest which is still strong to this day.

This also put Edward G Robinson on the map. He was absolutely magnificent in this as Caesar Enrico “Rico” Bandello/“Little Caesar” and what he did here has been parodied and mimicked numerous times sense. Then again the man had a distinctive look and speech pattern that set him apart from other performers. And a healthy dose of talent that allowed him to leave his mark in his big break.

Our antihero of Enrico Bandello begins this story in a nothing diner with his friend Joe Massara (the very not Italian looking Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). There’s a not too subtle message in Little Caesar of doing the right thing so you don’t end up dead or just screwed over. By the end of the movie Joe has enduring success and love while Rico has fallen from the top faster than Jonathan Majors did.

Rico basically muscles his way to the upper echelons in part by deposing his previous boss Sam Vettor (Stanley Fields). I understand this is in the 1930s and you may not have been able to show heavy murder but at least imply he killed the guy at some point. Don’t have the character hanging around in meetings and being his flunky! It strains credibility.

One thing you may notice is that the sets look more like they belong in a theater than they do in everyday life. That’s one of those things left over from the early days of film since many of these people were pulled from the theater. It’s very noticeable in this day and age yet something that people who also went to see plays would not have picked up one. Makes things look exceedingly lavish for underworld characters.

This is one of many of the hallmarks of a 90+ year old movie off putting to modern viewers but as stories go it’s good. The bulk of the cast has genuine talent and would leave their mark on entertainment over the course of their careers in one way or another. They perform characters and not archetypes. They pull you in and you’re really invested in what will ultimately happen to Rico. It’s clear nothing good will ever come of him but how he meets his end is what you’re watching for.

There’s a real economy of story in how they tell things as efficiently and quickly as possible. There is the rapid patter dialogue and a few conveniences that push an important character in a certain direction such as the conversation overheard by Rico in the homeless shelter when he is scraping the bottom. You have to be accepting of such things with older movies otherwise you’ll just see a bad film regardless of its actual quality.

And this is quite good. I have seen many very old films in my youth. Even my television viewing was usually older syndicated reruns other than the daytime game show or Days of Our Lives but that’s another thing. My point is I can like the older stuff and the newer stuff can be enjoyed for what they are. But I’m getting off track…

Things move quickly, but not at a breakneck pace. Aside from a few very convenient coincidences this is a great story. It’s an epic rise and epic fall undone completely by hubris. A man who reached the heights but wasn’t smart enough or controlled enough to keep it.

Little Caesar is a gangster classic that deserves its classic status. It set a standard and style others have emulated since. It may be tough for younger audiences to watch because of the style of the age but should be viewed by all film fans at least once.