A small-time hood shoots his way to the top, but how long can he stay there?
Acting
Robinson's snarl invented cinematic gangsters.
Direction
LeRoy's brutal efficiency — 79 minutes, zero fat.
Production
Pre-Code Hollywood at its most deliciously unhinged.
Director
Mervyn LeRoy
Edward G. Robinson
Caesar Enrico 'Rico' Bandello aka 'Little Caesar'
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Joe Massara
Glenda Farrell
Olga Stassoff
William Collier Jr.
Tony Passa
Sidney Blackmer
Big Boy
Ralph Ince
Pete Montana
Thomas E. Jackson
Sgt. Flaherty
Stanley Fields
Sam Vettori
Maurice Black
Little Arnie Lorch
George E. Stone
Otero
Armand Kaliz
De Voss
Ernie Adams
Cashier (uncredited)
Ferike Boros
Mrs. Passa (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Robinson's performance directly inspired every screen gangster for decades, including Pacino's Scarface.
The Hays Code was tightening as this released — it's essentially the last breath of Hollywood's unregulated id.
US
