Vale a Pena Roubar?

"Larceny, Inc." is a 1942 film starring Edward G. Robinson, Broderick Crawford, Jane Wyman, Anthony Quinn, Jack Carson, Ed Brophy, Jackie Gleason and Henry Davenport. The idea behind this film consciously or subconsciously may have inspired Woody Allen's "Small Time Crooks." Gangsters buy a luggage shop situated next to a bank in order to break through the wall into the bank vault; instead, they find themselves dragged kicking and screaming into legitimacy.

Edward G. Robinson is "Pressure," an ex-con who at first tries to keep customers out of the store ("if a customer comes in, blow him off") - but when he tells the young woman like a daughter to him (Wyman) that he's sincere, she starts working with a luggage salesman (Carson) on big promotions. Soon the store is jumping with customers. The merchants on the street ask for Pressure's support - the street is being torn up, and it's right before Christmas; he becomes their hero. However, when an ex con comes into the store to borrow money, he realizes the store is a front for a bank robbery and goes back and tells a scary prisoner, Leo (Quinn) who escapes and decides to do the job himself.

The funniest scene is the aggravated Robinson wrapping a suitcase when a customer asks for gift-wrapping. Robinson is hilarious - he could be doing Little Ceasar, he takes it so seriously, and he's all the funnier for it. Broderick Crawford did some comedy before "All the King's Men" - he's excellent as a dumb associate of Pressure's who's digging the hole to the bank. Jackie Gleason plays a soda jerk - and makes the most of it. Wyman and Carson don't have much to do, alas. The rest of the cast is uniformly delightful.

This is a real gem - "Small Time Crooks" takes the basic plot and goes in another direction with it - both are wonderful films. Try and catch this one on TCM.

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!

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

When I think comedy, the name Edward G. Robinson doesn't come to mind. But he does well in this amusing caper film, expertly piloted by comedy specialist Lloyd Bacon. Ex-cons Maxwell (Robinson) and his two bumbling confederates (Brophy & Crawford) aim to crash a bank vault from their next door luggage shop. Needless to say, they encounter one screwy mishap after another along the way. And just waiting to turn up and horn in is menacing foe Leo (Quinn), who's about as humor-filled as a hungry lion.

It really is a stellar cast, with Jack Carson being Jack Carson, Broderick Crawford as a dumb galoot, and Ed Brophy adding character color. Too bad that Jane Wyman has to stand around and just look pretty. Robinson, of course, is the boss giving orders hither and thither whether drilling into the vault or giving away luggage to keep up commercial appearance. Seems there may be a point to the light-hearted proceedings. Namely that the kind of drive it takes to succeed in crime may be the same kind of drive that succeeds in business. Of course, that doesn't mean commercial ends are no different from criminal ones. Instead, it means that both take a certain amount of drive to succeed in a big way. The irony here is that opportunist Maxwell adapts his skills quickly from one to the other.

Anyhow, credit director Bacon with blending the elements into a highly amusing package, especially when so much could have gone wrong given the tricky premise. No doubt, I still won't think Robinson when I think comedy. But I will think Robinson when I think outstanding versatile actor.

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!