Dillinger (1945)

Director:

Max Nosseck

Writer:

Philip Yordan (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

2 March 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

SHOCK-BY-SHOCK STORY OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS BANDIT OF OUR TIMES!! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

The rise of John Dillinger from petty criminal (including, unforgiveably, holding up a cinema) via prison...

Plot Keywords:

Bank Robbery | Prison | Organ Grinder | Bank Robber | Whittling

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Edmund Lowe	...	Specs Green
Anne Jeffreys	...	Helen Rogers
Eduardo Ciannelli	...	Marco Minelli (as Eduardo Cianelli)
Marc Lawrence	...	Doc Madison
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Kirk Otto
Ralph Lewis	...	Tony
Elsa Janssen	...	Mrs. Otto (as Else Jannsen)
Ludwig Stössel	...	Mr. Otto (as Ludwig Stossel)
Constance Worth	...	Blonde
Lawrence Tierney	...	John Dillinger
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Noble 'Kid' Chissel	...	Watchman (uncredited)
William B. Davidson	...	Bank President (uncredited)
Terry Frost	...	Federal Agent who shoots Dillinger (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson	...	Dentist (Dr. Rex Spang) (uncredited)
Victor Kilian	...	Pa Dillinger (uncredited)
Walter Long	...	Mug in police lineup (uncredited)
Lou Lubin	...	Walter (uncredited)
Jack Mulhall	...	(uncredited)
Billy Nelson	...	Watchman (uncredited)
Bob Perry	...	Proprietor (uncredited)
Hugh Prosser	...	Guard (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
Lee 'Lasses' White	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Max Nosseck

Writing credits
Philip Yordan		(screenplay)
William Castle		uncredited

Produced by
Frank King	....	producer
Maurice King	....	producer

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by
Jackson Rose

Film Editing by
Edward Mann

Art Direction by
Frank Paul Sylos		(as F. Paul Sylos)

Production Management
Clarence Bricker	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Fox	....	assistant director

Art Department
Vince Taylor	....	interior decorator

Sound Department
Tom Lambert	....	sound engineer (as Thomas Lambert)

Special Effects by
Ray Mercer	....	special effects

Music Department
Edward Haire	....	music editor
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Joseph Nussbaum	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Leon Charles	....	dialogue coach
Herman King	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• King Brothers Productions

Distributors

• Monogram Pictures (1945) (USA) (theatrical)
• Monogram Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Allied Artists Home Video (1979) (USA) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Donau-Filmgesellschaft (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Stern-Film Verleih (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Key Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

John Dillinger, Killer (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #10511) | West Germany:16 (nf)

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

King Brothers Productions

Trivia:

Many conservative social and religious groups demanded that the film be withdrawn or banned outright because of what they considered its "brutal and sensational" subject matter. The Chicago Censorship Board banned the film from being shown in Chicago for two years.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Dillinger's first crime wave in the state of Indiana shows a map of western Los Angeles County. The towns of El Segundo and Hawthorne are easily readable on the map.

Quotes:

Helen Rogers: Who lives here?
John Dillinger: What do you care?
Helen Rogers: Well, I just like to know where I am.
John Dillinger: You're with me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Reservoir Dogs' Revisited (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Silent Night

Terrific

I continue to be amazed at the ratings some movies get here. I just saw this snappy little movie and thought sure it would get a higher rating that 6.3. I agree with the another viewer's description of it being a "lean, mean, cheapo." A cheapo yes, but one where not a penny is spent on extraneous scenes. A nice antidote to higher-budgeted (and more highly rated) movies where we're made to spend hours watching actors doing virtually nothing in never-ending, story-killing close-ups. I'd watch this one again in a heartbeat.