Panic in Chicago (1931) - A weirdly fun German gangster flick

You should watch Panic in Chicago if you enjoy those early talkies where everyone is shouting just to be heard by the hidden microphones. It is perfect for people who like crime history or just want to see how Germans imagined the American underworld in 1931. Probably skip it if you need fast-paced action or a plot that makes 100% sense.

Honestly, it's a bit of a weird one.

It’s a German movie from the early thirties about Chicago gangsters. Think about that for a second. You have Friedrich Ettel and Hans Rehmann trying to look real tough in suits that look just a little bit too stiff for actual criminals.

The whole thing feels like someone in Berlin read a single newspaper clipping about Al Capone and decided to wing it. The plot is mostly about these guys using fake names and trying to outsmart each other. There is a lot of "cunning" going on, or at least people whispering in dark corners to show they are being cunning.

Olga Tschechowa shows up and she is basically the best thing on screen. She has this way of looking at the men like they are all slightly annoying children who shouldn't be playing with guns. Her presence reminded me a bit of the vibe in A Notorious Affair, though that one is way more about the romance drama than the bullets.

There is this one scene where a guy changes his hat and suddenly he is a "new person." It is hilarious how much the movie relies on these thin disguises. If you put on a different cap, the police just forget who you are, apparently.

The police in this movie are kind of useless anyway. They spend most of their time running around while the gangsters just walk out the back door. It lacks the raw energy of something like Pay Day, but it has its own slow, clunky charm.

I noticed one of the gangsters keeps touching his tie every time he lies to his boss. I don't know if the actor meant to do that or if his neck was just itchy. But it is those little things that kept me watching through the slower parts.

The Weird Vibe of German Chicago

The sets are supposed to be "The Windy City." But they look suspiciously like a soundstage in UFA studios. There is a scene in a "speakeasy" where the music sounds like it belongs in a polite tea room in Munich.

It is not exactly The Untouchables. But if you have seen The She Wolf, you know how these early 30s crime flicks can be a bit hit or miss with the "grit." This one leans more into the melodrama than the actual violence.

• The gunfights are mostly just a lot of smoke and people falling over.
• Everyone smokes like their lives depend on it.
• The pacing is... well, it is 1931, so it takes its time.

One thing that really stuck with me was the sound of the cars. They sound like giant lawnmowers. It is loud and distracting in a way that makes you appreciate how much better microphones got later on.

There is this one reaction shot of Hans Rehmann that lasts way too long. Like, the director forgot to yell "cut" and he is just staring into the void for an extra five seconds. It is awkward. But also kinda funny if you're in the right mood.

I think the writers, Julius Urgiss and Robert Heymann, were trying to make a serious point about the cycle of violence. But mostly it is just guys in big coats being mean to each other. If you are looking for a masterpiece, go watch something else.

If you want to see a weird artifact of film history, give it a go. It is definitely better than sitting through Ashamed of Parents, that is for sure. At least here someone gets shot occasionally.

Final Thoughts

It is a movie that feels like a rough draft. But sometimes rough drafts are more interesting than the final book because you can see the mistakes. Just do not expect a lot of actual "panic."

It is more like "Slight Concern in Chicago." 🤣

The ending is very abrupt too. Like they ran out of film and just decided to stop right there. It is worth it for the hats alone, but don't expect it to change your life.