Little Caesar (1931)

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

W.R. Burnett (novel)
Robert N. Lee (continuity)
(more)

Release Date:

25 January 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

The ambitious criminal Rico moves from the country to the big city in the east and joins Sam Vettori's gang with his friend Joe Massara...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Robbery | Gangster | Shootout | Tough Guy

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Edward G. Robinson	...	Little Caesar - Alias 'Rico'
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.	...	Joe Massara
Glenda Farrell	...	Olga Stassoff
William Collier Jr.	...	Tony Passa
Sidney Blackmer	...	Big Boy
Ralph Ince	...	Pete Montana
Thomas E. Jackson	...	Sergeant Flaherty (as Thomas Jackson)
Stanley Fields	...	Sam Vettori
Maurice Black	...	Little Arnie Lorch
George E. Stone	...	Otero
Armand Kaliz	...	De Voss
Nicholas Bela	...	Ritz Colonna (as Nick Bela)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Adams	...	Cashier (uncredited)
Elmer Ballard	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Ferike Boros	...	Mrs. Passa (uncredited)
Kernan Cripps	...	Detective (uncredited)
George Daly	...	Machine-gunner (uncredited)
Adolph Faylauer	...	New Year's Celebrant (uncredited)
Ben Hendricks Jr.	...	Kid Bean (uncredited)
Al Hill	...	Rico's 'Butler' (uncredited)
Lucille La Verne	...	Ma Magdalena (uncredited)
Gladys Lloyd	...	McClure Guest (uncredited)
Noel Madison	...	Killer Peppi (uncredited)
Tom McGuire	...	Detective on Phone (uncredited)
Louis Natheaux	...	Hood (uncredited)
Henry Sedley	...	Scabby (uncredited)
Gay Sheridan	...	Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	McClure Guest (uncredited)
Landers Stevens	...	Crime Commissioner Alvin McClure (uncredited)
Mike Tellegen	...	Bodyguard (uncredited)
Robert Walker	...	Lorch Henchman (uncredited)

Directed by
Mervyn LeRoy

Writing credits
W.R. Burnett		(novel)
Robert N. Lee		(continuity)
Francis Edward Faragoh		(screen version) (as Francis Edwards Faragoh)
Francis Edward Faragoh		(dialogue) (as Francis Edwards Faragoh)
Robert Lord		uncredited
Darryl F. Zanuck		uncredited

Produced by
Hal B. Wallis	....	producer (uncredited)
Darryl F. Zanuck	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Tony Gaudio		(photography)

Film Editing by
Ray Curtiss

Art Direction by
Anton Grot

Set Decoration by
Ray Moyer		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Earl Luick		(uncredited)

Music Department
Erno Rapee	....	general musical director
Leo F. Forbstein	....	conductor: Vitaphone Orchestra (uncredited)
David Mendoza	....	composer: music cues (uncredited)

Production Companies

• First National Pictures (presents) (A First National-Vitaphone Talking Picture) (controlled by Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.)

Distributors

• First National Pictures (1931) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros (1954) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Dominant Pictures Corporation (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1972) (Finland) (TV) (1978)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Vitaphone Corporation, The (1931) (USA) (theatrical)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Vitaphone) (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Sweden:(Banned) | Germany:12 | Canada:PG (video rating) | Sweden:15 (cut) (1976) | UK:PG | Ireland:PG | Finland:K-15 (2005) | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

Clark Gable was originally considered for the part of Joe Massara, but Jack L. Warner decided that Gable's ears were too big, and the role went to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. instead. Gable ultimately signed with MGM, where he would become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood history.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Microphone shadow moves across Tony as he closes door just after his mother has left room.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Caesar Enrico Bandello:Mother of Mercy! Is this the end of Rico?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis: Will Success Spoil Dobie's Mother? (#2.19)" (1961)

The film that made Edward G. Robinson's career

This isn't the best film Robinson ever made, but from a historical point of view, it is THE film to see considering it made him a well-known and A-level actor. This is pretty much what also happened with Jimmy Cagney's THE PUBLIC ENEMY--which also came out the same year. Both films are "pre-Code" in style, as they show a higher level of violence than gangster films of the late 30s--though both pale in sleaziness and violence to Paul Muni's SCARFACE!

The film begins with friends Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. as small-time hoods. They both decide they've had enough of this life so they move to "the big city" (though WHICH one is never said in the film). Robinson wants to move up and eventually control organized crime, while Fairbanks wants to be, believe it or not, a professional dancer! Both become very successful, but their lives are also inextricably intertwined. Exactly what occurs and how it all ends is really something you should see for yourself. It's an excellent ganger film--much better than average. However of the three gangster films I mentioned, my personal favorite would have to be THE PUBLIC ENEMY, as it's acting isn't quite as "over-the-top" and features a little more action and excitement.

FYI--For an interesting error, watch Robinson's arm when he is shot towards the end of the film. Despite clearly being shot in the right arm, later the left arm is in a sling! I assume this was just a mistake and wasn't done as an inside joke.