Vale a Pena Roubar?

Last night I had a good time with a ginger ale and a movie recommended by a brilliant poster, our own misspaddylee. It was worth the watch...Oh uh, what was it? Why "Larceny Inc." (1942) of course. A great little comedy of crime with humor that moved fast and furious.

2 crooks, J. Chalmers 'Pressure' Maxwell (Edward G. Robinson) and Jug Martin (Broderick Crawford), are released from prison. They enter the Warden's office for their 'stay out of trouble' pep talk and the Warden (Joseph Crehan) loses his suit to 'Pressure'. (Ya gotta see it to believe it. He is one smooth talker.) They are greeted, on the outside, by Maxwell's niece (and the apple of Jug's eye) Denny (Jane Wyman). On their lips are promises to go straight...it's too bad it's NOT written on their hearts.

Oh yes, they do purchase a Luggage Shop from Horace Bigelow (Harry Davenport). That looks to be a positive move even if the shop is located next door to a bank with a full vault.

Meanwhile Denny and new boyfriend Jeff (Jack Carson) get the real business moving by using Jeff's promotional know-how. This is to help the 'good guys' out. That's when real bad guy Leo Dexter (Anthony Quinn) escapes from jail, shows up at the shop and moves in for the take...from the bank not the luggage shop. From there the humor moves faster and more furiously. The crooks play off of each other. The dialog keeps you laughing.

Seeing Jack Carson in a romantic lead seemed strange. Seeing Jack Carson in a romantic lead with Jane Wyman as the girl he adored seemed even stranger. But it added to the humor.

And there are many other memorable roles, too. For example these played by Edward Brophy as Weepy Davis the gang member turned luggage salesman. John Qualen is Sam Bachrach a nosy shop owner. Barbara Jo Allen plays Mademoiselle Gloria who develops an instant interest in J. Chalmers Maxwell. Grant Mitchell as Mr. Aspinwall, the vault owner, ah I mean banker next door. And a certain Jackie Gleason does a short, memorable part as Hobart the lunch counter man. You have got to see those facial expressions...each and every facial expression.

Stormy

Edward G. Robinson in a slapstick comedy??!!! Yep, and a damn funny one. E.G. parodies his bad guy image perfectly in this flick as he wants to pull of one last heist before going straight, so he buys a luggage store next to a bank to break in, but he soon learns that he can make more money in a legit business... but that's only the beginning! I can't figure out why nobody knows about this film, it's very entertaining. It is perfectly cast, with Broderick Crawford, as Robinson's flunkie is hilarious, Jackie Gleason has a cameo doing a variant of his 'born loser' routine. Even Anthony Quinn is funny! If you can find it in the video store on on TV watch it, it's worth your while.

The Warner bros, was my favorite studio from the Hollywood system between 1930-45. They make social films, gangster movies, romantic melodramas, musical comedies, and sometimes robust comedies like this one. Here, the great E.G. Robinson makes funs of his bad guys role, like he will do a few years later in Brother Orchid. Dialogues are very funny and the situations, very simples, are hilarious. Good laughs!

This film never got much recognition, possibly because wartime comedies were ignored unless they had to do with the armed services or the global crisis, but it is an absolutely delightful comedy. It is reminiscent of an old Italian story called "The Crime of Don Giovanni," involving a Roman cafe owner who was jealous of a competitor next door to him, and decided to tunnel underground to steal dishes from the other restaurant's kitchen. Robinson, Crawford, and the supporting cast are superb!

A friend of mine had told me that this was funnier than Woody Allen's Small Time Crooks I admit I was skeptical, as too many so-called comedies from the black and white era don't get much more than a smile from me. My skepticism was rewarded with a very funny, fast-paced comedy with the kind of "crackling" dialogue they don't write anymore. Edward G. Robinson is a scream in the lead, and his supporting cast equals him. Don't miss this one. There's never a dull moment!