Dillinger (1973)

Director:

John Milius

Writer:

John Milius (written by)

Release Date:

20 July 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

...he was the gangster's gangster.

Plot:

John Dillinger and his gang go on a bank robbing spree across the midwest, but one G-Man is determined to bring him down.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Jail | Public Enemy Number One | FBI | Crown Point Indiana

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Warren Oates	...	John Dillinger
Ben Johnson	...	Melvin Purvis
Michelle Phillips	...	Billie Frechette
Cloris Leachman	...	Anna Sage
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Homer Van Meter
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Harry Pierpont
John P. Ryan	...	Charles Mackley (as John Ryan)
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Baby Face Nelson
Steve Kanaly	...	Pretty Boy Floyd
John Martino	...	Eddie Martin
Roy Jenson	...	Samuel Cowley
Read Morgan	...	Big Jim Wollard
Frank McRae	...	Reed Youngblood
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Dorr	...	Leroy (uncredited)
Roland Bob Harris	...	Ed Fulton (uncredited)
J. Edgar Hoover	...	Himself (post-end credits speech) (voice) (uncredited)
Terry Leonard	...	Theodore 'Handsome Jack' Klutas (uncredited)
Jerry Summers	...	Tommy Carroll (uncredited)
Catherine Tambini	...	Leroy's Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
John Milius

Writing credits
John Milius		(written by)

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	executive producer
Buzz Feitshans	....	producer
Lawrence Gordon	....	executive producer (as Lawrence A. Gordon)
Robert Papazian	....	associate producer (as Robert A. Papazian)

Original Music by
Barry De Vorzon		(as Barry DeVorzon)

Cinematography by
Jules Brenner

Film Editing by
Fred R. Feitshans Jr.

Casting by
Mike Fenton		(as Roos-Fenton)
Fred Roos		(as Roos-Fenton)

Art Direction by
Trevor Williams

Set Decoration by
Charles B. Pierce		(as Charles Pierce)

Makeup Department
Tom Ellingwood	....	makeup artist
Marlene Kolstad	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Salvatore Billitteri	....	post-production supervisor
Elliot Schick	....	production manager
David Sheldon	....	production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Donald C. Klune	....	assistant director
Ronald Martinez	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Robert M. Anderson	....	property master (as Bob Anderson)
Lavar Emert	....	assistant property master
John Rozman	....	leadman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Donald F. Johnson	....	sound mixer (as Don Johnson)
Kenneth Schwarz	....	boom operator (as Ken Schwartz)
Jerry Whittington	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
A.D. Flowers	....	special effects
Cliff Wenger	....	special effects

Stunts
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Harris	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks	....	stunts (uncredited)
Whitey Hughes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Jenson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Leonard	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Terry Leonard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Summers	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Colin J. Campbell	....	gaffer (as Colin Campbell)
Fay Caughron	....	second assistant camera
Henry Harrison	....	first assistant camera
Tony R. Mendez	....	grip
Charles L. Morgan	....	camera mounts
Charles L. Morgan	....	key grip
Ed Nielsen	....	first assistant camera
James Pergola	....	camera operator (as Jim Pergola)
James Plannette	....	best boy (as Jim Plannette)
Jack L. Richards	....	camera operator (as Jack Richards)
Phil Segura	....	still photographer
Mike Weathers	....	electrician (as J. Michael Weathers)
Byron White	....	best boy
James Wilson	....	key grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James M. George	....	wardrobe supervisor (as James George)
Barbara Siebert	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Leo Guerra	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Paul Casella Jr.	....	transportation gaffer

Other crew
Irene Barbas	....	production secretary
Charles Minsky	....	location associate
Christine Loss Minsky	....	production secretary
Julian F. Myers	....	publicity man
Bonnie Prendergast	....	script supervisor
Karen Rasch	....	production assistant
Paul Roedl	....	location auditor
Jerry Whittington	....	location scout (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1975) (USA) (TV)
• Vestron Video (1983) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Avid Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Globo Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Roadshow Home Video

Other Companies

• Braverman Productions  titles
• Braverman Productions  montage design
• Nesco  sound effects
• Ryder Sound Services  sound recording
• Cinemobile System  location services
• Imagic Inc.  opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 (video rating) | UK:18 | West Germany:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Norway:(Banned) (1973-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Ben Johnson (Melvin Purvis) was 54 when shooting this film, the real Purvis died at the age of 56. This is almost twice the age the real Purvis was when John Dillinger was killed - 30 years old.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Some of the peripheral male actors in the film do not have their hair cut in 1930s fashion (close cropped on on the sides and back and short or fully cut sideburns). One instance is with the gray-haired man helping to escort John Dillinger into the Crown Point Jail. He has long sideburns.

Quotes:

[Pretty Boy Floyd has been hiding with a farm family when he sees the FBI pull up]
Farm woman:Do you need a Bible?
Pretty Boy Floyd:[shakes his head ruefully] I admit, I have sinned; I have been a sinner, but I enjoyed it. I have killed men, but the dirty sons-of-bitches deserved it. The way I figure it, it's too late for no Bible. Thanks just the same, Ma'am.
[leaves through the window]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "All in the Family: Edith's Conversion (#4.9)" (1973)

Soundtrack:

The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)

A fine film...

I watched this for the first time in years after picking up the Widescreen DVD in the bargain bin. As a youngster, I remember many of these films for the bloodletting. How we used to talk them up afterwards. Often I'm disappointed after watching it many years later. 'Hey, that's not how I remember it. Well, 'Dillinger' isn't one of those films. This is a fine film, in fact, it's probably the number 2 film, behind 'Bonnie And Clyde' from that time that portrayed the Depression Era robbers. Warren Oates is excellent. He didn't get the chance very often to play the lead, but this was an excellent chance for him to bust out a little. And there are lots of recognizable actors in smaller roles. But this is Warren nearing his peak. It's as exciting as I remember, actually better then I remember. Well paced with a couple of slower interludes, that towards the end are kind of framed together. If you get a chance watch this film. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Oh and this DVD has the original 'We're In The Money' opening credits, plus it has the diclaimer at the end after the feature is over. I gave it a 7 out of 10.