No director could ask for more than Edward G. Robinson's contribution. Here, no matter what he has to say, he's entirely convincing.
Little Caesar (1930)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:18
Fresh:15
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.4/10
Runtime: 81 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: With its focus on character flaws instead of plot devices, LITTLE CAESAR is the mother of the modern gangster flick. Edward G. Robinson stars as Enrico Bandelli in the role that made him a... With its focus on character flaws instead of plot devices, LITTLE CAESAR is the mother of the modern gangster flick. Edward G. Robinson stars as Enrico Bandelli in the role that made him a household name. Bandelli moves to the big city with partner in crime Joe Massara (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) and becomes a member of Sam Vettori's Mafia gang. In spite of the urgings of pretty girl Olga Strassoff (Glenda Farell) to quit the mob, Rico quickly becomes the head of the Vettori gang and with a couple of quick kills scares mob boss Arnie Lorch back to Detroit. Bandelli, dubbed Little Caesar by the press, is known as a boss in his own right, but what goes up must come down in this tale of excessive hubris. At the time of its release, the stacatto sound design for LITTLE CAESAR was leagues ahead of its early talkie contemporaries. But what keeps the film alive is the fine script and the startling performance from Edward G. Robinson. [More]
Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks, Stanley Fields, Glenda Farrell
Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks, Stanley Fields, Glenda Farrell, Thomas Jackson
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Screenwriter: W.R. Burnett
Producer: Hal B. Wallis, Darryl F. Zanuck
Screenwriter: Francis Edward Faragoh
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Reviews for Little Caesar
Though it looks somewhat dated now, there's no denying the seminal importance of this classic adaptation of WR Burnett's novel.
Feels stilted when stacked up against its tougher depression-era contemporaries.
Robinson's riveting performance earned him a permanent place in the history of cinema.
LeRoy's direction is terse, tough and tense, although some of the sound is crude by modern standards.
One of the most well-known and best of the early classical gangster films is Warner Bros.' Little Caesar (1930) - often called the grandfather of the modern crime film
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
| 53% 53% | David & Layla |
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