Little Caesar (1931)

My Review

“Little Caesar,” released in 1931 by First National Pictures (later bought out by Warner Bros. Pictures), served as a template for all other gangster pictures to follow. It stars Edward G. Robinson as Caesar Enrico Bandello, following his rise through the criminal underworld of Chicago. This was his first starring role, and would type-cast him for his entire career. Co-stars include Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Glenda Farrell, Sidney Blackmer, William Collier Jr., Ralph Ince, George E. Stone, and Landers Stevens as the Crime Commissioner.

Director Mervyn LeRoy and screenwriters Robert N. Lee and Francis Edward Faragoh adapted the movie from the famous 1929 novel of the same name by W. R. Burnett. The watchable “Little Caesar” was very popular at the Depression Era box office for producers Darryl F. Zanuck and Hal B. Wallis and First National Pictures. It was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.