(1945)
4
Bruce Eder
Max Nosseck's Dillinger (1945) was made on a shoestring budget, far lower than the money allocated for John Milius' 1973 remake, yet it still retains a high reputation, mostly thanks to its noir-ish elements and the intensity of Lawrence Tierney's performance in the title role. Tierney is a dominating presence in this movie and pretty well carries the film, overcoming some obvious gaps in the budget and holes in the script; his eyes have a scary look, and his sheer attractiveness makes him a scary, savage presence. The rest of the movie works mostly because of its threadbare nature; if the director hadn't been hemmed in by a low budget, he might well have tried to elaborate scenes that work all the better because they're made of quick cuts and have minimal (or no) dialogue. Coupled with a frantic pacing -- the picture covers Dillinger's whole criminal career in 70 minutes -- the result is a kind of hybrid film noir, a gangster movie that only works because of its need for a doom-laden visual shorthand, and to keep the story moving, lest anyone realize how cheaply it was being made.
awards for Dillinger on AllMovie
Dillinger (1945)
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
|
Nominated |
Best Original Screenplay
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1945 |
