Little Caesar is a 1931 American pre-Code crime film distributed by Warner Brothers, directed by Mervyn LeRoy, and starring Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Glenda Farrell. The film tells the story of a hoodlum who ascends the ranks of organized crime until he reaches its upper echelons.
The storyline, based on real life Mafia boss Salvatore Maranzano, was adapted from the novel of the same name by William R. Burnett. Little Caesar was Robinson's breakthrough role and immediately made him a major film star. The film is often listed as one of the first fully-fledged gangster films and continues to be well received by critics. The Library of Congress maintains a print.
Plot: An aspiring small-town criminal, Caesar "Rico" Bandello (Edward G. Robinson) relocates to Chicago to hit the big time, accompanied by his buddy, Joe Massara (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). While Rico makes a name for himself in the underworld, Joe decides to leave the life of crime and ventures into show business, where he meets the lovely dancer Olga (Glenda Farrell). Though Rico and Joe try to honor their friendship, eventually their choices take them down dramatically different paths.
Cast:
Edward G. Robinson as Caesar Enrico "Rico" Bandello / "Little Caesar".
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Joe Massara.
Glenda Farrell as Olga Stassoff.
William Collier Jr. as Antonio "Tony" Passa.
Sidney Blackmer as Big Boy
Ralph Ince as Pete Montana
Thomas E. Jackson as Sergeant/Lieutenant Thomas Flaherty.
Stanley Fields as Sam Vettori.
Maurice Black as Little Arnie Lorch
George E. Stone as Otero.
Landers Stevens as Alvin McClure
Elmer Ballard as Bat Korilla
Noel Maddison as Killer Peppi
Henry Sedley as Scabby
Ben Hendricks Jr. as Kid Bean
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy
Written by Francis Edward Faragoh, Robert N. Lee, Robert Lord (uncredited)
Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited)
Based on Little Caesar by W. R. Burnett
Produced by Hal B. Wallis, Darryl F. Zanuck
Cinematography Tony Gaudio
Edited by Ray Curtiss
Music by Ernö Rapée
