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Little Caesar (1931)
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This classic gangster picture established the legendary Edward G Robinson as one of the most unlikely movie stars, in a role based on real-life mobster Al Capone. Adapted from the novel by The Asphalt Jungle's WR Burnett, this tough-as-nails crime melodrama consolidated the movie-making style begun by James Cagney's The Public Enemy the same year at Warner Bros, the studio that specialised in such tales. Robinson plays Enrico Bandello and the film follows his life of crime, from the opening gas station robbery to his control of the big-city mobs and eventual comeuppance. Robinson is so scene-stealingly good that one tends to forget the excellence of the rest of the cast, particularly carefree Douglas Fairbanks Jr and caustic Glenda Farrell. But nobody will ever forget the finale: “Mother of God, is this the end of Rico?... ” TS
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Tell us what you think
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Running time
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75mins
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Country of origin
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US
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Genre
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Crime Drama
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Original language
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English
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Screenplay
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Francis Edward Faragoh, Robert N Lee, from the novel by WR Burnett
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Theatrical distributor
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First National Pathe Ltd
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UK cinema certificate
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A
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| awards information |
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Award |
Category |
Name |
Nominee/Winner |
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| Academy 1930/31 |
Writing (Adaptation) |
Robert N Lee |
Nominee |
| Academy 1930/31 |
Writing (Adaptation) |
Francis Edward Faragoh |
Nominee |
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Film certification logos reproduced by kind permission of BBFC |
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