'''''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.
Synopsis
''Little Caesar'' takes place in contemporary (1930) Chicago. It is a gangster film.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.
Famous Quotes
"Mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico?" - Ed. 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?")
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. http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/rico.asp
