Live Life Team
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Starring Cast: Edward Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks, Glenda Farrell
Little Caesar, often called the grandfather of the gangster movie, was produced at the beginning of the sound era and while in some areas it shows its age it is still an efficient and well paced thriller. The film charts the rise of Rico from small time crook up through the gangster hierarchy. His naked ambition and brutality enable him to supplant one crime boss after another, but he seems insatiable in his quest for power and the dubious respect of upper-class women.
Robinson is convincing as the rising gangster boss with no humanity, only ruthless determination to climb to the top of the tree, no matter who he has to kill on the way. With his “ugly mug”, Robinson was an unlikely star, but in this film he found his forte as the short guy looking for respect and he gives an expressive and entertaining performance.
Little Caesar is quite basic by modern standards but the fast moving pace and gritty subject matter was new to audiences at the time. So much so that it essentially launched the gangster genre, even without the explicit violence and profane language that would later become vital components. This seminal mob flick is a must for all fans of the gangster movies, and if vintage flicks aren’t your thing, it’s worth watching just to see where all the gangster clichés started.
