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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Doubtless inspired by the success of then-recent `period' gangster films such as Bonnie and Clyde and The Godfather, American International Pictures' 1973 film Dillinger is a somewhat derivative, rough-around-the-edges biopic of the famous Depression-era outlaw; however, it is also one of the most overlooked and underrated movies of the early 1970s. John Milius' film stars Warren Oates and Ben Johnson, who had previously appeared together as the Gorch brothers in Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece The Wild Bunch, as John Dillinger and his nemesis, FBI agent Melvin Purvis. With a strong supporting cast featuring Harry Dean Stanton, Geoffrey Lewis, Cloris Leachman, and Richard Dreyfuss (as Baby Face Nelson), this vibrant, energetic movie is ripe for re-discovery.
Despite its 1930s' setting, Milius' film resembles less Bonnie and Clyde, and more a film that also appeared in 1973, Peckinpah's Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid; both movies share a theme of duality between the outlaw and the pursuing lawman, with the hunter obsessively tracking his quarry whilst envying his individuality and ill-gotten celebrity. Weapons enthusiast Milius stages his movie's many shootouts with remarkable intensity and realism, whilst the film's quieter sections are underlined with some wicked black comedy, and scenes of real emotional tug (especially memorable is the death of Pretty Boy Floyd, played by the little-known Steve Kanaly).
The film is not perfect. As a history lesson it is somewhat unreliable, and both lead actors, though excellent, are a little too old for the characters of Purvis and Dillinger, who were, respectively, thirty and thirty-one at the time Dillinger was killed (this is especially true of Johnson, who was in his mid-fifties when the film was made, and looks it). However, these are the only real complaints; unlike the distinctly underwhelming Michael Mann epic Public Enemies, Milius' version of the Dillinger legend does exactly what it sets out to do, and deserves to find a new audience on DVD.
Despite its 1930s' setting, Milius' film resembles less Bonnie and Clyde, and more a film that also appeared in 1973, Peckinpah's Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid; both movies share a theme of duality between the outlaw and the pursuing lawman, with the hunter obsessively tracking his quarry whilst envying his individuality and ill-gotten celebrity. Weapons enthusiast Milius stages his movie's many shootouts with remarkable intensity and realism, whilst the film's quieter sections are underlined with some wicked black comedy, and scenes of real emotional tug (especially memorable is the death of Pretty Boy Floyd, played by the little-known Steve Kanaly).
The film is not perfect. As a history lesson it is somewhat unreliable, and both lead actors, though excellent, are a little too old for the characters of Purvis and Dillinger, who were, respectively, thirty and thirty-one at the time Dillinger was killed (this is especially true of Johnson, who was in his mid-fifties when the film was made, and looks it). However, these are the only real complaints; unlike the distinctly underwhelming Michael Mann epic Public Enemies, Milius' version of the Dillinger legend does exactly what it sets out to do, and deserves to find a new audience on DVD.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
First time director John Milius exploded into the movie business with this classic gangster movie. Following the success of BONNIE& CLYDE Hollywood had a brief romance with depression era crime sagas, and this is one of the best. Warren Oates is perfectly cast as the famous bandit, He actually looks like Dillinger. With Ben Johnson as his nemisis G man Melvin Purvis. The Film has pace romance and brilliant action sequences. This is defientally worth buying.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As Clive James once remarked about a good BBC TV documentary "Sometimes you get an awful lot for your money". This low-budget gangster movie delivers a terse, well-written account of the short and eventful life of the FBI's first Public Enemy No 1, serving up in quasi-documentary style a mix of cranked-up gangster violence and sentimental Mid-West Depression nostalgia. There are two splendid performances from Warren Oates and Ben Johnson, ably supported by actors on the brink of substantial careers ... Harry Dean Stanton, Richard Dreyfus, Cloris Leachman, Geoffrey Lewis. Songs of the period such as "We're in the Money" are cleverly used as a sardonic counter-point to the machine-gun bursts and hectic car chases. Does director John Milius intend us to find in his film an old-fashioned moral? Despite Dillinger's claims to be "the best bank robber there is", their hauls seem modest and their quality of life likewise. Buy it anyway, and enjoy the movie of which Public Enemies is, alas, just a pale imitation. Favourite moment ... Dillinger taking a glass away from girl-friend Billie Frechette, snapping "You're an Indian. Indians shouldn't drink". Billie (grabbing her glass back) " I'm half-Indian and half-French. The French half drinks".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
great
Purchased for someone else, so not watched the film but he is very happy with it. Good quality, no problems
Published 6 months ago by shirley
THE gangster movie
to my mind the critic`s and other reviewers have got it wrong,The Godfather films are rubbish,compared to this little beauty,top of the range action all the way,fast story,good... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrgvase
Dillinger re-release disc
Good re-issue of the gangster classic, Dillinger, to dvd. Good film, Warren Oates and others play Dillinger and his gang of depression-era bank-robbing yeggs. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. Samuel Reed
dillinger
A great movie with oates and johnson at their peak,oates is the best screen dillinger[including johnny depp] .A real must see of the gangster movie genre.
Published on 4 Jan 2010 by nood the dude
Dillinger Review
I enjoy this film a lot - more than the recent Public Enemies which may be more historically correct - but is not as good entertainment wise. Warren Oates is a perfect Dillinger. Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2009 by S. Holmes
Dillinger
Am a Warren Oates fan and an American Gangster fan, but was disappointed with this movie.
Published on 27 Jun 2009 by William Jones
Top Gangster flick
In my opinion this film is equally just as good as any of the Godfathers if not better and has some good action scenes. Well worth a watch if you like G Flicks.
Published on 1 Jun 2009 by Matthew Smith
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