Customer Reviews

A very influential film - By: S J Buck, 25 Apr 2007
Little Caesar, madein 1931, was released only a few months before The Public Enemy with James Cagney, & together they set the standard that all future crime films would be judged. Edward G Robinson takes the acting honours by miles with a mesmerising performance as Rico.

The film is is clearly influenced by the life of Al Capone, & Chicagoin generalin the 1920's. For 1931, only a year or so into talkies the script is remarkably good. Flaherty, who is the Cop who wants to put the cuffs on Rico has some great dry witty & sarcastic lines. Rico has many classic lines including "You can dish it out but you're getting so you just can't take it anymore!" & his final words "Mother of mercy.. is this the end of Rico?".

Watch carefully & you will spot scenes by the director Mervyn LeRoy that influenced Martin Scorcese amongst others. Well worth getting & if there was a better crime film madein the early 30's I haven't seen it.