Comments on: A Gangster's Demise: Jarrett vs. Rico vs. Dillinger

By: Miracle

Miracle — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:47:27 +0000

The biggest thing about White Heat is that this is the first gangster role of the time that the audience really could not sympathize with. All the previous gangsters that Jimmy Cagney played had a sympathetic quality to them, justifying his violence by his lousy upbringing. I think that is one reason that White Heat was such a big thing. That and Cagney is awesome.

By: GregM

GregM — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:12:46 +0000

Neither. I guess my problem is that after growing up watching films like Untouchables, Bonnie and Clyde, and the Godfathers (to name a few) it's difficult to then watch any of 'old' gangster flicks without being, as Carson says, underwhelmed. I get the progress aspect; that we wouldn't have Road to Perdition without Little Caesar (or Scarface without Scarface). It's just difficult for me to hear lines like "it blew right up in his face" without cringing.

Looking forward to a top ten, though. I suggest making it for deaths in a gangster film as opposed to just gangster deaths. You can bet I'll be commenting if Jimmy Malone's defiantly bloody demise doesn't make the cut.

As far as Dillinger in PE: the blood didn't bother me but it was very, very fast. I didn't see what happened with Dillinger's gun and was probably a little preoccupied with looking for it.

By: Carson Dyle

Carson Dyle — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:06:11 +0000

@Brad Brevet: I suppose what I meant to say was that the film overall underwhelmed me – granted, the ending is indeed a shocking and memorable one. But I suppose I had gone in with the wrong attitude – it does have a very good reputation, but I had just come off "The Roaring Twenties," which incidentally seems to be less famous and less well liked, so I suppose I had built up expectations. There were certainly elements that I liked, but I suppose it just wasn't hitting the right notes for me.

But I was certainly reminded of it by a few scenes in "Public Enemies," particularly the idea of these gangsters out of the city and in the forests, et cetera.

By: Brad Brevet

Brad Brevet — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:53:07 +0000

@Carson Dyle: Oh, no denying there are plenty more… I just watched these two recently and decided to toss it up and see what people thought. Surprised to hear you say "White Heat" underwhelmed you, that ending — to me — is glorious, just love it.

Perhaps I should revisit a few more and piece together a top ten around the time Universal releases the Public Enemies DVD/Blu-rays.

By: Carson Dyle

Carson Dyle — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:46:40 +0000

I'd bring some more into the mix here, notably the death of Tom Powers in "The Public Enemy," which is as memorable as can be, and… erm… I know it's been out for years now, but there are two deaths in "Road to Perdition" that are utterly amazing, and I don't want to spoil them for anyone who hasn't seen it. And those people really should see it… best film of 2002 by a country mile. And Frank Nitti's death in "The Untouchables" is good for a laugh.

But my personal favourite would be Rocky Sullivan's death in "Angels with Dirty Faces". Not the typicaly gangster death, but Cagney's scream just chills the blood, and the way Curtiz staged it is… well… genius, frankly. I am a rabid Curtiz fanboy though, so stop me if I'm gushing.

Out of those you've presented, I'd have to go with Rico – Robinson's performance coupled with LeRoy's muscular direction make it a touchstone movie death, not just a gangster death. "White Heat" underwhelmed me, though, I'm sorry to say. Whilst I liked elements of it, I was just expecting a bit more than I should have, I suspect. Especially after seeing Walsh's "The Roaring Twenties," which is an utterly superb entry in the Warners Gangster canon. I loved the final moments of "Public Enemies," but I agree with Brad that the CG blood is a tad jarring. But it's my only quibble with that whole cinema sequence. It's a very good gangster death, regardless.

Oh, and I suppose honourable mention should go to Sonny Corleone's death too.