classicsoncall As primarily character actors, you don't get many chances to catch Warren Oates and Ben Johnson at the top of a bill, but they get the opportunity here in this Seventies gangster romp featuring many of the top hoodlum names of the era. My instincts tell me that most of this story was probably fictitious, and without the time or inclination to check out the details, I'll just say that it was an entertaining flick if you go for this kind of stuff.The film opens with an 'Introducing' Michelle Phillips credit, an early picture for the former Mamas and Papas singer. Though third billed right after the nominal stars of the picture, I didn't get a sense that she had a major impact on the story, even though she wound up as John Dillinger's (Oates) moll following his virtual kidnap of her in a run down barroom. She certainly didn't find herself in league with the era's infamous Bonnie and Clyde pair, though she did manage to squeeze off a few effective machine gun rounds in the latter part of the story.There's some interesting casting for Dillinger's associates, folks like Harry Dean Stanton as Homer Van Meter, Geoffrey Lewis as Harry Pierpont, and a young Richard Dreyfuss aptly chosen as Lester 'Baby Face' Nelson. That scene where Dillinger works over the fresh mouthed Nelson was one of those instances that didn't ring true to me. If it happened, I'm surprised Nelson would have stuck around.The coolest scene in my estimation took place right after Dillinger maneuvered his way out of the Lake County Jail, freeing Reed Youngblood (Frank McRae) and grabbing a guard and the warden for a brief period as hostages. As they make good their escape, Dillinger has his driver pull over so he can rob a bank! That I believe, is what they call chutzpah!

AaronCapenBanner John Milius directed this biographical drama that portrays 1930's outlaw and bank robber John Dillinger(played by Warren Oates) as he rises from obscurity to become public enemy number one, the most wanted man by the FBI led by determined agent Melvin Purvis(played by Ben Johnson) who wants Dillinger in particular because several FBI agents were killed after his last heist. Dillinger leads a gang whose members include outlaws with such colorful names like Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson. His days are numbered by the time he leaves the movie theater on that fateful day... Filmed before with Lawrence Tierney, this version is just a bit too crude, though the two leads are fine.

beatlemania909 I just finished Dillinger, not even 10 minutes ago, and have realized that John Milius didn't know what kind of film he wanted to make. At times Dillinger is seen as a rough cruel crook, then he changes into a loving and respected hero. Warren Oates plays the title role, while Ben Johnson plays Purvis, the man searching for Dillinger. These men portray the characters well, but my God were they old! Dillinger and Purvis were both 31 in this time period, while Johnson was 55 and Oates was 45, I would have cast some younger actors since the characters looked strange being so old. I will give it to Milius, the action sequences are absolutely amazing. His directing is perfect, his screenplay, not so much. The characters seem forced at times, and the dialogue didn't keep me interested for long. It's worth a watch, but I think I'm going to return my copy and pick up Apocalypse Now instead.

lastliberal If I am looking for a tough bank robber, I could not find a better one than Warren Oates. His portrayal of John Dillinger was spot on. He has the gangster look; no baby face for him.The question throughout was whether Dillinger was the most self-absorbed or was it Melvin Purvis (Ben Johnson), the man who smoked 50 cent Montecristos while he chased Dillinger and others. 50 cents in 1933 was a lot of money for a cigar! Lots of shooting and lots of blood in this film that also featured singer Michelle Phillips, Cloris Leachman, Geoffrey Lewis, and Richard Dreyfuss.There are a lot of laughs in the film, too. It was a good story that kept you interested until the end.