Is it worth the watch?
If you have any interest in where the whole
tough guy gangster trope came from, you absolutely have to see this. It is short, punchy, and doesn't waste your time with a bunch of fluff.
People who love
The Sopranos or
Scarface will find the DNA of those shows right here in black and white. If you hate old movies where people talk like they are on a theater stage, you might find it a bit stiff at first. 🍿
Rico is a bit of a freak
Edward G. Robinson is not what you expect for a leading man. He is short and has this face that looks like a very angry pug, but man, he
commands every second he is on screen.
The movie starts in a tiny diner. Rico and his buddy Joe are eating, and Rico is just staring at a newspaper about some big-shot mobster.
You can see the gears turning in his head. He doesn't just want money; he wants people to
look at him.
He has this weirdly intense way of combing his hair. It’s such a small detail, but it shows how much he cares about his image even when he's nobody.
The Big City Dream
They move to the city, and Rico joins a gang run by a guy named Vettori. Rico basically takes over because he is just meaner and faster than everyone else.
I noticed that the guns in this movie look almost like toys. When they shoot, there is no muzzle flash, just a
pop-pop-pop sound that reminds me of bubble wrap popping.
It’s funny because even though the effects are dated, the
tension is real. You actually feel nervous when Rico is in the room because he is so unpredictable.
Joe and the Dancing
Joe Massara, played by Douglas Fairbanks Jr., is the 'nice' friend. He wants to be a professional dancer.
It’s a bit of a weird subplot. One minute they are talking about robbing a nightclub, and the next Joe is doing these fancy spins on a stage.
The movie spends a lot of time on Joe’s romance with his dance partner, Olga. Honestly, I found myself wanting to get back to Rico’s crime spree.
Joe looks
terrified of Rico the whole time. There’s this one look Rico gives him at a banquet that just screams "I will kill you if you leave me."
The Banquet Scene
Speaking of the banquet, it is one of my favorite parts. The gang throws Rico a party and gives him this huge, ugly gold watch.
Rico is so proud of it. He keeps checking it and showing it off.
It’s kind of sad, actually. He’s this mass murderer, but he’s also just a kid who wants a shiny toy to show he's
made it.
It reminded me a little of the pacing in
The Extraordinary Adventures of Mr. West in the Land of the Bolsheviks, where everything feels a bit hyper and frantic.
Random Observations
- The way Rico says "Dish it out" is iconic.
- There is a scene where a guy gets shot on the steps of a church. It’s very dramatic.
- The suits are incredible. Everyone is wearing a three-piece suit even when they are just hanging out in a basement.
- The sound quality is a bit hissy, but that’s 1931 for you.
- Rico's downfall starts because he can't handle being called a coward. His ego is his actual killer.
The Ending (No Spoilers, I promise)
The final ten minutes are just perfect. It’s raining, it’s dark, and Rico is hiding out in a flophouse.
He goes from wearing silk robes and jewelry to wearing a raggedy coat. The shift is
brutal.
That famous final line... "Is this the end of Rico?" It’s delivered with such a mix of confusion and pride.
He still can't believe he’s mortal. It’s a much more grounded ending than something like
Disraeli, which feels way more theatrical and polished.
Final Thoughts
It isn't a perfect movie. Some of the acting from the supporting cast is pretty wooden.
The female characters don't really have anything to do besides worry. But as a character study of a
megalomaniac, it still works.
I think I liked it more than I expected to. Usually, these old talkies feel like a chore, but this one has a real
bite to it.
If you've got 80 minutes to spare, give it a shot. It’s way more entertaining than half the stuff on Netflix right now. 🎬
Just don't expect 4K resolution or blood splatters. It’s all about the
attitude. 😎
