tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post3133805103119310345..comments2024-01-24T15:33:58.720-05:00Comments on A<br> Mythical<br> Monkey<br> writes<br> about<br> the<br> movies: A Gangland Double Feature: Little Caesar And The Public EnemyMythical Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11330587602682498820noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-37445499238712832672021-07-08T11:12:10.394-04:002021-07-08T11:12:10.394-04:00Doh! That should be
www.alexandersblog.netDoh! That should be<br /><br />www.alexandersblog.netAlexander's Wragtime Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18040396351813319589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-28423922095677807612021-07-08T09:03:36.678-04:002021-07-08T09:03:36.678-04:00I'll get back to Public Enemy shortly (I'v...I'll get back to Public Enemy shortly (I've seen it more than once but can't remember much about it), but thoroughly enjoyed Little Caesar for the first time ever today. Robinson towers over the rest, with Fairbanks particularly unconvincing - stiff, as you say. The whole homoeritic thing is as plain as the nose on Rico's face, but a curious subtext for a Hollywood feature...unless it's what Hollywood has always been about and I just never noticed in my younger days.<br /><br />Thanks for your blog which I've just found. My review of this movie is being drafted at www.alexandersblog.co.ukAlexander's Wragtime Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18040396351813319589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-20472157678175125662011-04-26T09:29:59.249-04:002011-04-26T09:29:59.249-04:00Interesting to note that Edward G got two of the b...<i>Interesting to note that Edward G got two of the best death scenes in film history bookending his movie career--Rico's and then in SOYLENT GREEN where he still gave a masterful performance. </i><br /><br />I hadn't thought of it, but you're right -- he bookended his career with two of the greatest death scenes in the history of movies.<br /><br />In any event, I'll be returning to Edward G. Robinson again in the future, I promise.Mythical Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11330587602682498820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-27923533150088611302011-04-26T07:44:33.071-04:002011-04-26T07:44:33.071-04:00I realize its more than year late but I've jus...I realize its more than year late but I've just discovered your great blog. Just wanted to add that the Academy had actually voted to give Robinson the Award PRIOR to his death so he at least knew about it. Speculation at the time had it that the reason he was chosen in the first place was that it was well-known he was dying. I remember hoping he lasted long enough to show up at the ceremony. <br /><br />Interesting to note that Edward G got two of the best death scenes in film history bookending his movie career--Rico's and then in SOYLENT GREEN where he still gave a masterful performance.Bookstevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09797445163866512849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-88797849801266085832009-12-24T09:57:35.040-05:002009-12-24T09:57:35.040-05:00our gangster heroes are unable to form healthy rel...<i>our gangster heroes are unable to form healthy relationships with women.</i> <br /><br />Cut out "<i>gangster</i>. . . .TourqueYMadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06124284585514378745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-27492289475472199672009-12-24T09:06:40.882-05:002009-12-24T09:06:40.882-05:00Thanks "not.Goro.Adachi" and welcome to ...Thanks "not.Goro.Adachi" and welcome to the blog.<br /><br />I have to agree with you that <i>The Public Enemy</i> has held up much better than <i>Little Caesar</i> and that a lot of that has to do with Cagney's performance. <i>The Public Enemy</i> isn't perfect either, but it's a definite must-see. Much more to it than the grapefruit scene -- for example, the bit where Cagney executes a horse!<br /><br />There's a subtext in both of these movies (as well as in <i>Scarface</i>) -- our gangster heroes are unable to form healthy relationships with women. Rico Bandello disdains women, sneers at the thought of wasting time with one when there are men to be bullied. Tom Powers can't perform (as he explicitly states when talking to Jean Harlow's Gwen Allen) except with the middle-aged mother figure (played by Mia Marvin). And Paul Muni's Tony Camonte (<i>Scarface</i>) has incestuous designs on his own sister. Also Tony and especially Tom have some serious mother issues to work through.<br /><br />I think the screenwriters, at least, and maybe all involved, were suggesting that a lot of the gangster culture was the macho posturing of scared little boys. Freud was all the rage then and his theories tended to slide into the movies sideways (one of the most egregious examples is from the otherwise sublime <i>The Philadelphia Story</i> where the father blames his philandering on an inattentive daughter).<br /><br />Great stuff though. It works on a fun, visceral level but there's also plenty of insight into real human behavior to think about.Mythical Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11330587602682498820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924668268143757716.post-75240632452375011402009-12-24T06:21:01.018-05:002009-12-24T06:21:01.018-05:00Wow, just found your blog, great stuff.
Little Ca...Wow, just found your blog, great stuff.<br /><br /><i>Little Caesar</i> is a little too stiff and homosexual for me. <br /><br />It has some good moments but the Cagney movie is twice as good. Yeah, there's the grapefruit but it's non-stop Cagney, which is fun all in itself. (Still not a great picture but a great picture for that era/genre.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com