The Last Gangster (1937)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Edward Ludwig

Writers:

Robert Carson (story)
John Lee Mahin (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 November 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Romance of a Gangster's Life told in GRIPPING DRAMA!

Plot:

Gangster Joe Krozac is in prison for ten years. Reporter Paul North is fired by his newspaper for writing...

Plot Keywords:

Newspaper | Reporter | Gangster | New York City | Murder

Cast

Edward G. Robinson	...	Joe Krozac
James Stewart	...	Paul North Sr.
Rose Stradner	...	Talya Krozac
Lionel Stander	...	Curly
Douglas Scott	...	Paul North Jr. / Joe Krozac Jr.
John Carradine	...	Caspar
Sidney Blackmer	...	San Francisco Editor
Grant Mitchell	...	Warden
Edward Brophy	...	Fats Garvey (as Edward S. Brody)
Alan Baxter	...	Frankie 'Acey' Kile
Frank Conroy	...	Sid Gorman
Louise Beavers	...	Gloria, Talya's Maid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Alexander	...	Reporter (scenes deleted)
William Arnold	...	Father (scenes deleted)
Nick Copeland	...	Reporter (scenes deleted)
Arthur Howard	...	Father (scenes deleted)
Mitchell Ingraham	...	Father (scenes deleted)
Cy Kendall	...	Editor (scenes deleted)
Frank Marlowe	...	Reporter (scenes deleted)
Eddie Marr	...	Frankie Kile (scenes deleted)
Walter Miller	...	Mike Kile (scenes deleted)
Broderick O'Farrell	...	Father (scenes deleted)
Cyril Ring	...	Father (scenes deleted)
Paul Sutton	...	George Kile (scenes deleted)
Pierre Watkin	...	Editor (scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

Another Public Enemy (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:(Banned) (1938) | USA:Approved (PCA #3768)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Joe Krozac is sent to Alcatraz in 1927, but Alcatraz didn't become a federal penitentiary until 1933.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)

Robinson explodes out of the screen!

This is one of Edward G. Robinson's best performances. He played the gangster with the expired use by date in a number of movies, most notably in "Key Largo", but here he takes the character on a fascinating journey. He starts as a newly-wed little Napoleon, is crushed by his conviction on tax evasion, degraded through ten years of prison, and tortured to near death by his former gang when released. Through all this he is motivated by a great love for a son he has never met - when he does meet him finally his tender side is released.

What a challenging role this is - and how brilliantly Robinson rises to the challenge. At times you'll hate him, but he is always so vividly real that it is impossible not to empathise. Less effective is Rose Stradner as his wife - she too often slips into melodrama. It is perhaps not surprising to learn that she only made one other film. How fabulous Luise Rainer would have been in this role. The rest of the cast is terrific - that great Warner Bros store of thugs and villains - with Lionel Stander and John Carradine particular stand-outs.

And a pre-star James Stewart is the good guy - he even has a Clark Gable moustache in some scenes (the studio never let him grow that again!). The little boy is very icky - seems more English than American and is far too boy scouty to be appealing.

But add to all this strong direction, a good script, and stunning camera-work and you have a minor masterpiece. The torture scene is really very harrowing and the passage of time in prison montage is excellent - and you've got to love the opening credits.