Gangster lore is part of growing up in Chicago. Some people may find the admiration of people of the time for such violent men rather odd, but for those suffering during the
Great Depression, Dillinger's Robin Hood gestures (and their understandable hatred for banks) seemed to justify their reactions. (Not that such behaviour is unique; the scene in PUBLIC ENEMIES of the people cheering Dillinger's escape made me think of OJ).
I remember years ago talking with an older shoeshine man who worked in our northwest side neighborhood. He was in his 70s and expressed that same admiration for John Dillinger as a kind of "Robin Hood" bank robber, as shown in the new movie
PUBLIC ENEMIES featuring
Johnny Depp and
Christian Bale.
The interesting thing about such lore is you forget that Dillinger and his like were dangerous, violent men.
Some haven't given the movie good reviews, but watch actual video of
Dillinger and you can see the reported charm and that smirk which Depp got down perfect.
The best part of such a film is seeing familiar landmarks like the
Biograph Theatre renovated into what they looked like back in the 1930s.
Yes, as some people have said, you won't learn much about Dillinger or other gangsters like
Pretty Boy Floyd or
Baby Face Nelson watching this movie. It has a lot of action and I jumped several times when the shooting began. But it seemed realistic. To me, going back in time is the best part of watching a period film. I enjoyed the movie, and knew some of the background already, so for that aspect, Id watch it again. What about you?
* See the actual FBI Dillinger
wanted poster* Read the New York Times front page on
Dillinger's death* Watch the Wisconsin Little Bohemia Lodge video
Having just come back from the Renaissance Faire, (one of my favorite places to go,) I was surprised to find that what caught my eye this year were all the "character actors."
One of the best - check out the statue. I initially passed it without paying much attention - then it moved!
