By the time he directed his first feature film, Dillinger, John Milius (whose writing credits include Apocalypse Now (1979), Extreme Prejudice (1987), Big Wednesday (1978), and more) was one of Hollywood’s hottest screenwriters. He became a director because he was dissatisfied with how his previous two screenplays, Jeremiah Johnson (1972) and The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), were handled by other directors. As a result, he chose Dillinger as his debut film since he thought it would be the ideal topic for him to demonstrate his directing abilities. Based on a true story, Dillinger follows the criminal exploits of a famous bank robber John Dillinger (Warren Oates), and his gang, as well as the efforts of the FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Ben Johnson) (who also narrates the film) to apprehend them during The Great Depression The film is mean and bleak, with just enough well-executed violent shootout scenes and an intense cat-and-mouse game between cops and robbers, which will satisfy the genre’s loyal fans.
John Dillinger loves his job as a bank robber and considers himself a professional. He enjoys doing what he does so much that midway through the film, after getting arrested, he escapes from the prison with a fellow prisoner, Reed Youngblood (Frank McCrae), while holding the warden hostage. As they are driving, he spots a bank, stops the car, and robs the establishment on his own, even though the police are looking for him everywhere. To avenge the deaths of his fellow law enforcement officers in the Kansas City Massacre of 1933, Melvin Purvis dedicates his life to tracking down and capturing John Dillinger and his gang of misfits, which includes Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd (Steve Kanaly) and Lester “Babyface” Nelson (Richard Dreyfuss). He considers his vendetta against Dillinger to be very personal, and there is a scene that brilliantly depicts how determined he is to catch the gang, which begins with Purvis and the other officers surrounding a house where one of the gang members is hiding. Purvis dons his bulletproof vest and gloves before stuffing a massive cigar into his lips and instructing his coworker to ignite it. He then grabs his two firearms, fearlessly enters the house alone, and ends up shooting and murdering the criminal inside.
The film also depicts how the media glorifies criminals and turns them into heroes, which happened a lot, particularly during the Great Depression era (another example being Bonnie and Clyde), when bank robbers and outlaws were celebrated because they opposed government financial institutions which the public had little to no trust left. Purvis is annoyed by the extensive media coverage that a criminal like Dillinger receives after his arrest. There is a scene in which he sees two children playing cops and robbers, and the one acting as the robber tells him that he would not want to become a police officer since it requires going to school, as opposed to someone like Dillinger, who did not go to school and is still rich and famous. It shows how treating a criminal like a celebrity can have a negative impact on the minds of children.
There are at least three shootout scenes that become increasingly brutal and lengthy as the film proceeds, but they are all expertly staged and don’t overstay their welcome, notably the one near the conclusion when Purvis raids the Little Bohemia Lodge, which lasts around 10 minutes. After the shootout, Dillinger and his gang separate, and the screenplay branches out and shows the journey and fate of the other gang members like Baby Face Nelson, Charles Floyd, Homer Van Meter (Harry Dean Stanton), and Harry Pierpont (Geoffrey Lewis), in the manner reminiscent to The Great Escape (1963). Dillinger’s ultimate fate is reserved for the climax, which is a fitting way to end the film.
John Milius aced the casting in Dillinger, especially with Warren Oates and Ben Johnson. Oates looks like a mirror image of the real-life John Dillinger, who was tall, lean, and charismatic. Ben Johnson is exceptional as Melvin Purvis, who is determined, confident, and relentlessly pursuing the Dillinger gang. The poise and calmness he exudes as Melvin Purvis elevates his performance. Micheal Mann made his own version of the Dillinger story in the form of Public Enemies (2009) starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. If you liked that film, you are going to love this one even more.
Dillinger movie links: IMDB, Wikipedia
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