I was surprised to find this movie was produced by the poverty row studio Monogram famous for it's
B quickies. Bela Lugosi & the East Side Kids but occasionally produced quality gems like this 1945 film of the famous bank robber & public enemy John Dillinger. But then the major studios were steering
clear of gangster films during the war.
Lawrence Tierney made his big splash as the popular Robin Hood folk hero of the depression. The film doesn't really feel like it's set in the 1930's & looks more like a 1940's film noir gangster film set in the time it was made. Lawrence Tierney was quite a bad boy in real life & makes George Raft look almost like a choir boy.
Lawrence Tierney does a good job as Dillinger but portrays him as a cold blooded killer which the real John Dillinger wasn't. He robbed banks & displayed his charismatic charm to the media press & public.
But the cast elevates this movie with the usual suspects like Marc Lawrence & Elisha Cook Jr. & Eduardo Cianelli. This is a good watch but the definitive more factual version was the 1973 movie with Warren Oates he nailed it & was the best John Dillinger.
But Lawrence Tierney is good. I recommend both versions.
Lawrence Tierney made his big splash as the popular Robin Hood folk hero of the depression. The film doesn't really feel like it's set in the 1930's & looks more like a 1940's film noir gangster film set in the time it was made. Lawrence Tierney was quite a bad boy in real life & makes George Raft look almost like a choir boy.
Lawrence Tierney does a good job as Dillinger but portrays him as a cold blooded killer which the real John Dillinger wasn't. He robbed banks & displayed his charismatic charm to the media press & public.
But the cast elevates this movie with the usual suspects like Marc Lawrence & Elisha Cook Jr. & Eduardo Cianelli. This is a good watch but the definitive more factual version was the 1973 movie with Warren Oates he nailed it & was the best John Dillinger.
But Lawrence Tierney is good. I recommend both versions.