Little Caesar (Warner Bros.) (1931)

eWorld It’s Better Than “Doorway To Hell” You Can’t Go Wrong CT GANGSTER” OF VOOD IS IN REAL LIFE AN INTELLECTUAL CHAP »binson Who Is Called The Czar Of ovie Gangsters Took A Law Degree In College ture) . gangster of the G. Robinson. is the king-pin of ers just as surely ll-known individual a of Chicago. ver, the difference so far as their real » Much as they may 2 scenes they play— man in real life, and ae screen and stage— could be more widexy temperament. ; ward G. Robinson, who is 1e title role in “Little CaeFirst National film which running at the .. ,is a college graduate, who dly studied for the ministry, en for the law, and eventualed to the stage. ‘: as he is in screen life, he ibrow in real life. And yet been termed “the perfect pg all of the so-called “highbrow” character. His first important role was in the Theatre Guild production of “Juarez and Maximilian.” He took the part of young Porifirio Diaz. He then established a very wide reputation in “The Kibitzer.” He played the role of Ponza in Pirnandello’s “Right You Are If You Think You Are.” One of his biggest successes was in “The Brothers Karamazov”. One of his favorite plays was the symbolical “Goat Song”. He took an important role in one of the first war plays, “Under Fire”. _ “Potentially, we are every character in the world,” he says. “I always look on the human side of every characier I play, and do not regard any role as a real type. That is the secret of ‘Little Caesar’, the thing which makes it, as a book, so different from ordinary gangster tales, and which, I hope, makes my role different in this picture. “I do not look on the gangster as a mere killer. As a matter of fact the big gangsters are not killers. The killers are specialized workers —hired gunmen. “The big gangsters of today are came a gangster by chance, ngster he has remained, not cause he is —— the * type—because there are #€ those in Hollywood, but he is a splendid actor. ‘1 years ago, when Bartlett | He “removed” every man who barred his sensational rise to chiefdom! Now he was being stopped by his best pal and a girl! What happens? t wrote “The Racket”, Robas given the role of “Nick obviously a prototype of a mt racketeer. And believe it Robinson up to that time er heard of this man! The “mot” chief was not as ly known then as _ now. n did not model his role im—personally, and never him until aout the time opened, wien Cormack f the Chicago gunman. ess of “The Racket” was 1. Robinson won treraise. After a long run ork the play toured the t toured every big city icago. The authorities permit it there, for fear shootings on the part of — also possibly because night show up the work‘rupt politics. Incidentally, to Robinson, most of the as not anxious to go to Yearly all of them had re*ats in advance. e play hit Los Angeles producers saw it, and was immediately signed gangster pictures. He r the same role in the m of “The Racket”, as vo Louis Wolheim. on left the stage, and he the movies’ head gangster ~ “When you think gangs&obinson,” might well be + of the movie producers. ‘as chosen for the head roles in “Little Caesar”, viously played the gangster e Widow From Chicago”, lite White. nson is worried because he ght of only as gangster type. born in Rumania, and came York with his parents when child. He grew up in the and was eventually sent ollege of the City ef New * parents wanted him to inistry. After two years work he turned to the ook a law degree. But of art, literature and the cinated him, and he desive it a try. His success t instantaneous. The plays ‘\e appeared were nearly — CRITERION a A © little c Cae¢ar First National’s Secret Story of Fe, Gangdom. G. ROBINSON ‘IRBANKS, Jr. Se Sc a direct outgrowth of the big business idea in America—of the idea of controlling everything by trusts. The gangster looks upon himself as a big business-man, operating within the law if possible, or without it if necessary. Like the competition in business, it is a case of the survival of the fittest. In business the survival is commercial, and the tactics legal. In gangdom, the survival is personal — the answer is with the machine gun. Efficiency, excellent organization, psychology, leadership of men, and a knowledge of human nature and dominant power are the characteristics of the gang leader of today. And that is the keynote of the character of ‘Little Caesar’, as portrayed in W. B. Burnett’s famous novel.” Edward G. Robinson—and don’t forget the “G”, as he is particular about that—hopes to get away from gangster roles and do something highbrow in the movies soon. Meanwhile, he thinks “Little Caesar” is the best thing he has done in pictures. ceeeasienteteniennieenameeaeenel Edward G. Robinson Famous For Gangster Characterizations (Advance News) Edward G. Robinson, who plays the title role in “Little Caesar,” the First National picture which comes to the Theatre on ae , is one of the most finished actors in the American stage. His fame in the movies is principally confined to gangster roles, largely because of his striking work in the stage version of “The Racket” several years ago, in which he played the part of Nick Scarsi. Previous to that he had been a sensation in some of the most intellectual plays on the American stage. These included the part of young Porforio Diaz in the Theatre Guild production of “Juarez and Maximilian,” “The Kibitzer,” the part of Ponza in Pirnandello’s “Right You Are If You Think You Are,” “Under Fire,’ and “The Brothers Karamazov.” W. B. Burnett’s novel, “Little Caesar,” depicting the rise to fame of the American gangster, and the cause of it, was selected as the book of the month by the Literary Guild, and has been an enormous seller. One of the most noted casts in Hollywood was assembled for it at First National Studios, under the direction of Mervyn LeRoy. It includes Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., William Collier, Jr., Ralph Ince, George E. Stone, Armand Kaliz, Nick Bela, Glenda Farrell, and many others. Francis Edward Faragoh wrote adaptation. Sidney Blackmer, the screen Cut No. 27 Cut 60c, Mat 15c BEGINS TOMORROW DowNtTow A WARNER BROS. THEATRE tt LE with EDW. G. ROBINSON DOUG. FAIRBANKS, Jr. Glenda Farrell Rico ruled supreme, for in his racket he was judge, jury and executioner. He made only one mistake in his life—he tried to break a bond of love! Sidney Blackmer “Little Caesar’ Was Named After the Mighty Julius Author of the Story Was Reading Gibbon When The Idea Came (Advance News) “Little Caesar”, which comes to the Theatre next is First National’s screen version of the novel by W. B. Burnett, which was a recent Literary Guild selection. Burnett explains the title thus: It happened that he was reading Gibbon’s “Decline and Fall of The Romen Empire” during his work on the novel. In reading of Caesar’s glory, and the methods by which he achieved his fame, Burnett was ee Ss Se Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in “Little Caesar” Cut No. 21 Cut 5c Mat Sc struck by the analogy between Caesar and the leading character in his book. Thus it was that the book dealing with the exploits of Rico Bandello was named after Rico’s more famous countryman, Julius Caesar. Many modern Italians are named Caesar, so the author gave it to Rico for his middle name. Edward G. Robinson, of New York stage fame, plays Rico or “Little Caesar” in the picture. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., also has an important role. Supporting them in a fine cast are Glenda Farrell, William Collier, Jr., Sidney Blackmer, Ralph Ince, George E. Stone and many other players. Mervyn LeRoy directed the picture after intensive research into crookdom’s byways for material that would make for a realistic portrayal of gangster life. Chicago Mother Feels That “Little Cacsar” Scene Concerns Son —— (Advance News) “Little Caesar,” which comes the screen of the Theatr aes , is First National screen version of the W. R. Bur nett novel of the same name. Man of the gangster characters in tl Story are either drawn from re. life or are composites of sever: actual individuals, eee eee One part, however, that of Tony Passa, played by William Collier Jr., was purely fictitious. Mr. Bur. nett, the author, states that an old woman in Chicago is under the im pression that this character and his dramatic death concern her son. In the story Tony is killed by his fellow-racketeers on the steps of a church where he once sang as a choir boy. re sss," _ Unknown to Burnett, this very incident occurred to this Chicago woman’s son, and consequently she believes that the scene represented Edw. G. his death. The author found out athe about the woman through a newsinson boy, who sold her a copy of the in paper in which the serialization of “Little “Little Caesar” was appearing. She Caesar” wept copiously, and confessed to the urchin the dramatic story of Cut No. 22 her boy. Cut 5c P — The cast of “Little Caesar’ headed by Edward G. Robinson a Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and tl are ably supported by such capa performers as Glenda Farrell, V liam Collier, Jr., Sidney B -™| si mon