12 reviews
Thoroughly Routine Dillinger Biography
young dillinger
Pretty much agree with the majority of the eleven previous reviewers that this is mostly trashy boredom with occasional trashy fun. Worst thing about it is how cheesy a production it is. Not only does it look like TV, but cheap ass TV, to boot. More "Highway Patrol", say, than "Untouchables" since it makes but a feeble attempt at a period look, and the cinematography is serviceable, at best. Certainly expected more from the great DP, Stanley Cortez, who does whatever the cinematographer's version of phoning it in is (post carding it in?). That it rates a very generous five is due to some nice, twisted supporting bits from Victor Buono as the Sam Jaffe of this ersatz Asphalt Jungle and John Hoyt as a pervy quack. As for Nick Adams, he does what he always does, mumble and method his way through until he decides to yell and go bananas. Mary Ann Mobley is also over the top, especially in the film's second half, but at least she's hot. Bob Conrad (as Pretty Boy Floyd) and John Ashley (as Baby Face Nelson) tend to get lost amid all the tommy guns. As does Terry Morse's direction and Arthur Hoehl and Donald Zimbalest's screenplay. Solid C.
fine B-movie
John Dillinger (Nick Adams) follows the suggestion of his girlfriend Elaine (Mary Ann Mobley) to rob her father. The young criminal couple gets caught. Her father begs him to take all the blame. He is surprised to be sentenced five to twenty years. He would join other criminals like "Baby Face" Nelson (John Ashley) and "Pretty Boy" Floyd (Robert Conrad).
This does not feel like the early 20's which is when this movie should take place. It's low budget and sparse. It feels like a 50's teen crime drama which may be the point. There are no bells and whistles. The movie moves. The actors do their bit. It's low-fi. It's fine.
This does not feel like the early 20's which is when this movie should take place. It's low budget and sparse. It feels like a 50's teen crime drama which may be the point. There are no bells and whistles. The movie moves. The actors do their bit. It's low-fi. It's fine.
- SnoopyStyle
- Apr 17, 2024
- Permalink
I watched it all and yet I was left waiting for so much more
I always enjoy the old crime films especially when they are filmed in black and white. Frankly though, Young Dillinger was a big disappointment. I could not understand the relationship on screen between John Dillinger (Nick Adams), and his moll. Elaine (Mary Ann Mobley). They continually expressed their undying love to one another but all I saw were two people reading their scripted lines and lacking any emotion or physical attraction to one another. If anything I viewed Mary Ann Mobley's performance as deserving of a. Golden Raspberry Award. Had this award been available in 1965. Fortunately for Mary Ann Mobley the awards were first presented in 1981.
There is a relatively strong supporting cast with actors such as Robert Conrad, John Ashley, Victor Buono, and John Hoyt but their performances were wasted on this very choppy film with no real sense of direction.
No spoilers here but suffice to say I am still waiting for a proper ending to the film. It is as if the director was left hanging when the entire cast walked out before the film was provided with a proper ending to the Young Dillinger story.
I can only give this film a lacklustre 3 out of 10 IMDb rating.
There is a relatively strong supporting cast with actors such as Robert Conrad, John Ashley, Victor Buono, and John Hoyt but their performances were wasted on this very choppy film with no real sense of direction.
No spoilers here but suffice to say I am still waiting for a proper ending to the film. It is as if the director was left hanging when the entire cast walked out before the film was provided with a proper ending to the Young Dillinger story.
I can only give this film a lacklustre 3 out of 10 IMDb rating.
- Ed-Shullivan
- Apr 17, 2024
- Permalink
Young Robert Conrad
This forgotten film belongs to the movies made in the early sixties, and telling the stories - more or less fictionnal - of authentic gangsters: MURDER INC, PORTRAIT OF A MOBSTER, RISE AND FALL OF LEGS DIAMOND, BABY FACE NELSON, MAD DOG CALL, PURPLE GANG, PRETTY BOY FLOYD.... And many other items. This one is far from being a masterpiece, the director was himself a horror B movie vet film maker, not Don Siegel nor Phil Karlson; but the result is surprisingly good, far better than I could expect. And what a exquisite pleasure to watch Robert Conrad just before he entered WILD WILD WEST terrific TV show.
- searchanddestroy-1
- Sep 30, 2023
- Permalink
How To Win Friends And Influence People
All he wants to do is to marry Mary Ann Mobley, but they've got no money. At her urging Adams robs her father's business, killing a guard in the process, then it's off to find a Justice of the Peace.... but they're too young to get married, so they head off to honeymoon anyway. But Miss Mobley's father wants his money back, so it's off to prison for Adams, where he meets the nicest people, like Pretty Boy Floyd -- Robert Conrad -- Baby Face Nelson -- John Ashley. Adams escapes, then breaks his friends out, killing a few guards in the process, and it's off to the race.
This looks like it anticipates a lot of things about BONNIEAND CLYDE, but in a B movie way. Terry Morse hadn't directed a movie in almost ten years. Instead he practiced his other craft, that of editor, and he had Stanley Cortez helming the camera. As a result, visually and in terms of pacing, it's excellent; The heist and fighting sequences are excellent (if you can ignore Shorty Rogers bombastic, jazzy score), but the performances are all over the shop, from Conrad solid performance, to Victor Buono's over-the-top mastermind, to Miss Mobley's whiny hysteria.
It's one of the increasingly violent crime movies of the 1960s, and like the pre-code era, it ends with a pious paean to the cops who guard the citizenry. It didn't stop local station managers from shutting down a network broadcast in 1968, about the time that Adams died of a drug overdose at the age of 36.
This looks like it anticipates a lot of things about BONNIEAND CLYDE, but in a B movie way. Terry Morse hadn't directed a movie in almost ten years. Instead he practiced his other craft, that of editor, and he had Stanley Cortez helming the camera. As a result, visually and in terms of pacing, it's excellent; The heist and fighting sequences are excellent (if you can ignore Shorty Rogers bombastic, jazzy score), but the performances are all over the shop, from Conrad solid performance, to Victor Buono's over-the-top mastermind, to Miss Mobley's whiny hysteria.
It's one of the increasingly violent crime movies of the 1960s, and like the pre-code era, it ends with a pious paean to the cops who guard the citizenry. It didn't stop local station managers from shutting down a network broadcast in 1968, about the time that Adams died of a drug overdose at the age of 36.
Dull Dillinger
I am a fan of Nick Adams, but this is one of the worst acted, filmed and written movies ever made. Shoe string budget and dismal script makes this black and white film a full, boring mess. Victor B. steals the film in a small cameo as the Professor of Crime. Forget the whole thing.
- angelsunchained
- Jul 25, 2020
- Permalink
John Dillinger rounds up a criminal gang and robs banks in the 1930s.
The poor man's James Dean during the 1950s, Nick Adams always felt that he'd been born at the wrong time. He wanted to be a James Cagney type tough guy in Depression-era gangster films. He finally had the chance to make that dream come true, if on an ultra-cheap budget, with this wildly inaccurate tale of John Dillinger and his bank robbing gang. At one point, Adams even does a Cagney imitation, the hilarious high point of what is, sad to say, a rather inept film, if an intriguing one all the same. Mary Anne Mobley plays his gun moll with gusto, and best pal Pretty Boy Floyd is portrayed by Adams' own best friend, Robert Conrad. Various semi-stars, from Victor Buono to John Hoyt, show up in cameos. I love the scene in which a plastic surgeon (Hoyt) tries to change "Johnny's" face, but it remains the same - and so, going Richard Widmark one better from Kiss of Death, Dillinger cackles with laughter as he tosses the chairbound doctor into a pool and watches him drown. Adams co-produced, and the film's failure left him distraught - and somewhat destitute. When the film was shown on CBS TV three years later, Adams even lost his top-billing, as Conrad (who had become a star thanks to The Wild, Wild West on that network) was given that honor for the telecast. A day after the broadcast, Adams was found dead in his apartment, an apparent suicide. Come on, Nick - it wasn't THAT bad!
Nightmare.
What a load of bs, from the acting to costumes and facts or lack there of. Nick adams as dillinger is as bad as mickey rooney as babyface Nelson. I loved Robert Conrad in almost everything but this, a waste of talent. Nick adams like rooney a angry little guy. The only thing that I like about this is the music.
- valstone52
- Feb 26, 2020
- Permalink
Allied Artists Movie!
This is a great gritty low budget movie from a fabled small boutique studio Allied Artists which had a great run with films such as Love In The Afternoon, Friendly Persuasion, El Cid, Papillion and Cabaret, et al and film directors such as William Wyler, John Huston, Billy Wilder and stars such as Ava Gardner, Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Steve McQueen, Sophia Loren. Young Dillinger is a wonderful movie directed by Robert Wilson who also did a fine racetrack drama at Warner Bros called Wall of Noise that starred Ty Hardin, Dorothy Provine, Ralph Meeker and Suzy Pleshette. Robert Wilson cast his movies well! In Young Dillinger, Nick Adams and Bob Conrad star along with former Ms America Mary Ann Mobley and a great cameo by Victor Buono. There isn't much more to say about this fine film but to see it if and when you can!
Watch Nick Adams and Mary Ann Mobley
Ok, not a masterpiece, not perfect, and the music sucks. BUT if you are a fan of Nick Adams and Mary Mobley then this is interesting. I've taken a liking to Nick Adams a lot because he is a very good actor and was very well respected in Japan for doing a few Godzilla movies. (Seeing him and Kumi Mizuno together is wonderful in 'Invasion of Astro Monster'). So, set aside your criticisms and just enjoy the movie.
- mbm9000-788-131241
- Jul 15, 2020
- Permalink