Dillinger and Capone

Far fetched and disappointing for a Martin Sheen film. Having seen Capone portrayed by Robert De Niro and others, F. Murray Abraham's rendition lacks believability. The concept behind the film offers much potential but not much was done with it. Sheen does his best with limited material.

Verdict - one to miss

It's kind of interesting to watch Martin Sheen in a really stupid movie.

If you dig historical accuracy, this one will drive you crazy. The plot has John Dillinger (Martin Sheen) not being killed in 1934 because the FBI actually shot his brother (Joe Estevez getting a quick paycheck). Years later he is living as "John Dalton" with his wife and son on a farm. But, wouldn't you know it, just when he thought he was out, they pull him back in. They being Al Capone (F. Murray Abraham), who kidnaps Dalton's family in order to force him to do a job for him in Chicago. The job? Get back the millions he had hidden in a hotel basement. Yup, this plotline is pure fantasy, but the Roger Corman-produced picture is a fine 90 minutes. Not great, not terrible. If anything, it is worth it for Abraham's unhinged Capone, playing up his syphilitic madness as he boozes, talks to imaginary people, and shoots hookers. There is also a fun supporting cast including Don Stroud, Stephen Davies, Catherine Hicks, Michael Oliver (yes, the PROBLEM CHILD himself), Sasha Jenson, and Jeffrey Combs and Michael C. Gwynne as two bumbling FBI agents. And as hard as I found the plot to swallow, nothing is more outlandish than Concorde-New Horizons staple Maria Ford showing up in a few scenes and lusting over Sheen.

On July 22, 1934, FBI agents shot and killed John Dillinger outside the Biograph movie theater in Chicago. This movie says they shot his brother, while Dillinger, in the person of Martin Sheehan, moved hundreds of miles away, married, and became a farmer. Five and a half years later, Al Capone was released from prison because of dementia due to syphilis. He moved to his Florida house, kidnapped Dillinger's wife and stepson and forced Dillinger to go to Chicago and steal the $15,000,000 in cash he had stashed in a vault.

All complete nonsense, of course. Sheen's Dillinger is a decent family man who regrets his lawless past, in a philosophical, shrugging way, while F. Murray Abraham's Capone is a delusional monster with a butler, Stephen Davies, who gets seconded to Sheen for the big bank robbery. There are also a,lot,of,shots,in sepia monochrome that lead into set shots, and a soundtrack that is based on the Carnegie Hall version of "Swing, Swing, Swing." Catherine Hicks, as Sheen's wife, delivers her lines in a manner that emphasizes how badly they are written.

Short of the real-life people which this movie hangs its hat on, this might have made a decent movie. With them, it becomes nonsense.

fictional account about Capone and dillinger.martin sheen plays john dillinger(who survived the shooting at the movie theater)like i said fictional.he wants to go straight and leave the life of crime behind. AL Capone(f Murray Abraham)has other plans.he kidnaps Dillinger's wife(Catherine hicks)and son to force him to rob the gangsters that have all his stolen money.along for the ride is don stroud,Sasha Jensen,Jeffrey combs,Bert remsen,and maria ford.its a roger corman produced gangster movie that delivers.OK its not the untouchables or scarface but its a good exciting gangster b movie,made by Concorde/new horizons.the sequel sort of is baby face nelson that starred c Thomas Howell and f Murray Abraham as Capone again.the music on the sound rack is very good.i would put this in a class with big bad mama,and bloody mama.i did enjoy this movie,maybe because I'm a Roger Corman fan,even though there's a few Corman movies i did'nt like,for instance;carnosaur. I'm giving dillinger and Capone 8 out of 10.it rocks!