Outside the Law (1930) Review - Robinson is a menace

Is it worth the watch?

If you're into those early 1930s movies where everyone sounds like they are shouting into a tin can, you should definitely check this out. It's perfect for people who like gritty crime stories that don't feel too polished or fake.

If you need high-speed car chases or fancy CGI, you are going to hate this movie. It moves slow, like a cat trying to decide if it wants to go outside or not.

I sat down to watch this because I'm a fan of Tod Browning. Most people know him for his weirder stuff like The Unknown, but here he is playing with gangsters and bank robbers.

The plot is pretty simple. Fingers is this guy who thinks he can rob a bank for half a million dollars without telling the local big shot, Cobra Collins.

Edward G. Robinson plays Cobra. Honestly, he steals every scene he is in just by looking annoyed. He has this way of chewing on a cigar that makes you think he’s about to bite someone’s head off.

The movie starts with a lot of talk about the hit. Connie, played by Mary Nolan, is the moll who has to lie to Cobra's face. You can tell she's nervous because she keeps fidgeting with her jewelry.

There is a moment early on where a phone call comes in right as she is trying to bluff him. The timing is so awkward it actually feels real, like a real mistake happened on set and they just kept filming.

The actual bank robbery? We barely see it. If you were expecting a big action set piece, sorry. This movie is way more interested in what happens after the crime.

Most of the film takes place in this one apartment where Fingers and Connie are hiding. It feels very cramped. You can almost smell the old wallpaper and the cigarette smoke through the screen.

I noticed that the lighting in the hallway is really dark. Sometimes characters just disappear into the shadows for a second. It's probably just because they didn't have a big budget, but it makes the whole thing feel spooky.

Then there is the kid. Delmar Watson plays this little boy who lives across the hall. He just wanders into their hideout like it's no big deal.

It’s kind of funny because Fingers is this tough criminal, but he starts playing with the kid. The movie gets a bit soft here. It’s trying to show us that these robbers have hearts of gold or something, but it feels a little forced.

There’s a scene where they are all sitting around a table and the silence goes on for a long time. It’s supposed to be tense, but I found myself looking at the background characters. One guy in the back just keeps staring at the wall.

Mary Nolan is really good at looking worried. Her eyes are huge. Every time there is a knock at the door, she looks like she’s going to faint. It’s a bit much sometimes, but that was the style back then I guess.

If you’ve seen The Americano, you know how these early talkies can be a bit stiff. *Outside the Law* suffers from that too. People stand in one spot for a long time because they had to hide the microphones in the flower pots.

I think the best part is the ending. I won't spoil it, but it gets pretty violent for a movie made in 1930. The guns sound like little popguns, but the intensity is there.

Cobra Collins finally catches up to them, and Edward G. Robinson just goes full villain. It’s great. He doesn't even have to do much; he just stands there looking mean.

One weird thing I noticed: there is a dog in one scene that seems very confused about why it is there. It just walks across the room and looks at the camera. I love little mistakes like that.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even Browning’s best work. But it’s a solid hour and change of old-school crime drama that doesn't try to be anything it isn't.

• Coolest moment: The standoff near the end.
• Slowest moment: Any time they talk about their feelings in the apartment.
• MVP: Edward G. Robinson's scowl.

I’d say watch it if you’re doing a deep dive into 1930s cinema. If you're just looking for a casual Friday night movie, maybe stick to something newer. But for us film nerds, it’s a nice little find.

The print I saw was a bit grainy. It actually helped the mood. It felt like watching something you weren't supposed to see, like an old police file. 📽️

Overall, it's a bit clunky but the acting from the main trio keeps it from being boring. Just ignore the kid if he gets too annoying. 👶