Little Caesar

by Gerald Peary (Editor), Francis Edwards Faragoh (Editor), Tino T. Balio

    Little Caesar, a 1931 Hollywood gangster classic, is viewed in revivals today with nearly as much audience enthusiasm as it enjoyed a half-century ago, in the depths of the Great Depression.
    In general, the Hollywood film industry responded to the dark economic conditions of the 1930s with escapist and non-topical films. The fascinating exception was the gangster film, through which the studios joined in the debate over the spiritual and economic health of the nation. Little Caesar, considered by many to be an architype of the genre, is one of the most memorable dramatizations of the discontent and alienation, the deep anxiety and hostility shared by millions of Americans during those dark years.

190 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1981

Reviews

[Victoria & David Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read: maintains the interest and tension of the movie.
I really like the Wisconsin / Warner Bros. Screenplays series. Using the Warner Brothers and RKO libraries, each volume has a critical introduction placing the business, cultural, and personality specifics in context. Stills from the movie and extensive notes on variations between the scripts and what was actually used in the released film are a great addition.