Little Caesar

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This article is about the crime drama. For the pizza chain, see Little Caesars. For the basketball player, see Abe Saperstein. For the rapper see Lil' Caesar

Little Caesar
Image:LittleCaesarP.jpg Original Poster from 1931
Directed by	Mervyn LeRoy
Produced by	Hal B. Wallis (uncredited) Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited)
Written by	W.R. Burnett (novel) Francis Edward Faragoh Robert N. Lee (continuity) Robert Lord (uncredited) Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited)
Starring	Edward G. Robinson Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Glenda Farrell
Music by	Erno Rapee (Musical Superviser)
Cinematography	Tony Gaudio
Editing by	Ray Curtiss
Distributed by	Warner Bros./First National Pictures
Release date(s)	January 9, 1931
Running time	79 min.
Country	USA
Language	English
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Little Caesar is a 1931 crime film made during the Pre-Code era which tells the story of a man who works his way up the ranks of the mob until he reaches its upper heights. It stars Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Glenda Farrell. The movie was adapted by Francis Edward Faragoh, Robert N. Lee, Robert Lord and Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited) from the novel by William R. Burnett. It was directed by Mervyn LeRoy.

1 Synopsis
2 Famous Quotes
3 Acclaim and Legacy
4 Filming Dates
5 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Little Caesar takes place in contemporary (1930) Chicago. It is a gangster film.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The story centers around small-time crook Caesar Enrico Bandello (aka "Rico", played by Robinson) and friend Joe Massara (Fairbanks). Both men head for Chicago to find their fortune. Joe, who wants to be a dancer, is more interested in fame and women and eventually meets Olga (Glenda Farrell). Rico joins the gang of Sam Vettori (Stanley Fields) and quickly gains control of the group. He then proceeds to push his way to the top, where through circumstances, he loses all power. Escaping from the police, he is gunned down in a gutter by Sergent Flaherty (Thomas Jackson).

[edit] Famous Quotes

"Mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico?" - Edward G. Robinson as "Rico" Bandello saying his final words.

(This is an early example of Hollywood censorship- in the novel the line reads "Mother of God, is this the end of Rico?", and a take was also filmed with Robinson saying it verbatim. However, the studio felt that the line would be blasphemous, coming out of the mouth of a murderous villain, and the alternate take was used instead.)

[edit] Acclaim and Legacy

Little Caesar was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Adaptation.

Little Caesar was remade in 1973 as Black Caesar.

In 2000 the United States Library of Congress deemed the original film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

It has been speculated, but never confirmed, that the anti-organized crime statutes in the United States were dubbed RICO in a sly homage to Little Caesar. The original drafter of the RICO bill has refused to confirm or deny this. [1]